"Getting Everyone on the Same Page": Nursing Home Physicians' Perspectives on End-of-Life Care

Abstract

For the 12 physicians in this study consensus about the resident's status and an appropriate care plan are important features of good end-of-life care. Further research is needed to determine if other members of the health care team (i.e., residents, family members, nursing staff, social worker, etc.) also value consensus highly. It will be important to determine what barriers to consensus other team members identify. Based on the understanding generated from this study, a refinement of the general Education for Physicians on End-of-Life Care (EPEC) model describing the relationship between curative and palliative care is proposed for nursing homes. The refinement underscores the points at which the team might consider revisiting consensus about the resident's status and care plan.