Snapshot of an Outpatient Supportive Care Center at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Abstract Background: Integration of palliative care (PC) in oncology have been found to improve symptom distress, quality of life, and survival in patients with advanced cancer. Early integration is most appropriate in the outpatient setting. However, most PC services in the United States do not have an outpatient component. Our study aims to provide a snapshot of the type of patients and families who are referred to this novel setting for the delivery of early PC. Conclusion: Traditionally, PC has been delivered predominantly to patients with advanced disease and to aid in transition to end of life. In recent years, outpatient centers have dramatically changed the nature of PC work as in our snapshot, which shows that in addition to patients regarded as more traditional patients, such as those transitioning to end of life, there are now patients who come in very soon after arrival to a cancer center requiring specialized care to address a variety of symptom and educational needs, thus requiring adaptatio...