Implementing Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Teams: Consultative Versus Integrative Models.

ABSTRACT

Interdisciplinary teams are at the core of intensive care unit palliative care consultation. They allow health professionals of different disciplines to collaborate in a synergistic fashion to achieve the goals of patients and their families. Interdisciplinary teams can have a variety of members depending on available resources and the goals for its function. There are multiple benefits to highly functioning teams, as well as challenges that may be faced when trying to provide patient care in a team-based setting. Interdisciplinary teams of different structures may provide the ideal support for complex cases in critical care settings.