Establishment of the first Australian public and health-professional palliative care advice service: exploring caller needs and gaps in care
David J. T. Marco
A B * , Esther McMillan-Drendel C , Jennifer A. M. Philip B D , Theresa Williamson E and Brian Le C F
A Centre for Palliative Care, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia.
B Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
C Palliative Care, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
D Palliative Care, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
E Palliative Care, Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
F Palliative Care, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Australian Health Review 47(5) 569-573 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH23108
Submitted: 23 May 2023 Accepted: 26 June 2023 Published: 30 July 2023
Abstract
This study explores and describes the state-wide needs of the first 1000 calls to the newly established Victorian Palliative Care Advice Service (PCAS). A retrospective analysis investigated calls from the Victorian general public (n = 618 calls) and healthcare professionals (n = 382 calls) to PCAS between 26 May 2020 and 24 October 2022. Caller demographics, disease type, reason for call, and perceived utility of service were described. Most calls were from members of the public (62%) and related to malignant conditions (41%). Regional/rural clients comprised 45% of all calls to the service, of which half (50%) were health professionals seeking advice on symptom management and medication. One-third (29.3%) of all calls from health professionals were escalated to a palliative care medical consultant. PCAS prevented calls to emergency services in 10% of cases, and 82% of callers reported their issue was ‘very much’ or ‘completely’ addressed by PCAS. PCAS was shown to be frequently used by the public and healthcare professionals supporting patients with advanced, life-limiting illnesses. The service provided a solution without requiring complex technology, delivering a rapid connection for consumers with specialist palliative care expertise that might otherwise be unavailable, particularly in regional areas.
Keywords: advice, health professional, health services research, needs, palliative care, population health, telehealth.
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