Perceived Needs among Healthcare Providers Caring for Seriously Ill Adults Regarding Electronic Health Record Triggers for Palliative Care Referral

Many healthcare facilities in the United States currently utilize electronic health record triggers to promote and facilitate palliative care referral. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived needs regarding electronic health record trigger criteria for palliative care referral among healthcare providers caring for seriously ill adult hospitalized patients in a teaching hospital in New York State. A qualitative descriptive approach was utilized with use of individual semistructured interviews. Braun and Clarke's Reflexive Thematic Analysis method was used to analyze data. Data analysis generated one overarching theme, I'm in Favor of an Electronic Health Record Automatic Trigger for Palliative Care, and three key themes, Build a Checklist Screening Tool Into Epic With Predefined Conditions and a Palliative Consult in the Admission Order Set, If Providers Call a Palliative Care Consult Sooner, We Give Patients a Better Quality of Life, and Providers Need to Be Aware of the Different Facets of What Palliative Care Actually Does. Findings revealed that all participants supported incorporating electronic health record palliative care triggers. Future research is needed exploring provider palliative care education approaches to promote understanding of palliative care services and to address personal and/or professional bias.