Should an Acute Palliative Care Unit be Mandatory for Cancer Centers and Tertiary Care Hospitals?

Abstract

Acute palliative care units have been developing in the last years and their clinical activity and characteristics have been described, despite large differences in different countries. One controversial topic is whether such units should be mandatory as standard in comprehensive cancer centers or even in tertiary hospitals. In this "Controversies in Palliative Care" article, three expert clinicians independently answer this question. Specifically, each group provides a synopsis of the key studies that inform their thought processes, share practical advice on their clinical approach, and highlight the opportunities for future research. Interestingly, all three experts arrived at similar conclusions. They underscored the importance of an acute palliative care unit, which provides a different pattern of activities in comparison with typical inpatient hospices, generally caring for patients who have a limited expected survival.