Integration of oncology palliative care in a regional health care system.

34 Background: Early incorporation of palliative medicine in cancer care has been shown to be associated with improved symptom control, quality of life, and patient and family satisfaction however integration in the outpatient setting remains deficient nationwide. Regional healthcare systems carry the additional challenge of providing consistent quality care across a diverse geographic area. We performed a retrospective review of oncology palliative care utilization in a regional healthcare system following the implementation of a fully integrated model of palliative care. Methods: In 2012, Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) and Carolinas Palliative Care collaborated to establish palliative care access across its 12-site regional cancer center. This was a transition from a vendor service to a fully embedded clinic at multiple LCI locations. The new model offered full time outpatient multidisciplinary services in addition to an inpatient oncology palliative care consult service. Standardization of care and earl...