A Good ICU Death: Not an Oxymoron (P13)

Abstract

1.Describe the need and opportunity to improve the quality of dying in the intensive care unit (ICU).2.Describe specific tools for high-quality family meetings, managing the transition to comfort care, and ensuring optimal pain and symptom management for actively dying ICU patients.3.Describe how to create an environment within the ICU for the family that not only supports their grieving but also provides an opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of their loved one's life. Because up to 30% of hospital deaths occur in the intensive care unit (ICU), improving end-of-life care in the ICU must become a priority to meet the needs of patients and their families. In this multidisciplinary, interactive, case-based workshop, participants will learn methods for the primary cardiac care unit team to integrate palliative care into daily work including tools to improve an actively dying patient's pain and symptom management, safely discontinue mechanical ventilation, implement standardized evidence-based multidisciplinary family conferences, and effectively involve formal palliative care consultation into care. Participants will also learn how to support the patient's family and friends through their sadness and grief while also exploring ways to create an environment within the ICU to recognize and celebrate the uniqueness of each patient's life.