Resumen de Care of geriatric patients with advanced illnesses and end-of-life needs in the emergency department
Daniel Bell, Margaret Brungraber Ruttenberg, Emily Chai
Older patients with advanced illnesses are presenting more frequently to emergency departments (EDs). These patients have complex needs that challenge busy EDs tuned to provide emergent, life-sustaining interventions and rapid dispositions. Matching the appropriate level of medical intervention to a patient’s goals of care requires specialized communication skills. Providing comfort at the end of life requires the ability to manage the following situations in the acutely dying patient: acute pain, dyspnea, terminal delirium, secretions, dry mouth, fever, and family bereavement.
