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- Page navigation anchor for RE: Opitimizing care for critically ill older patientsRE: Opitimizing care for critically ill older patients
Kudos to the authors of this important article. It is essential reading for internists, ICU docs, ER docs, hospitalists, palliative care docs, family docs and the general public....in other words for everyone who may be impacted by critical illness in the elderly. The article puts emphasis on the importance of geriatricians , which are in short supply, but fails to mention the important role of the family physician.Discussion of goals of care with otherwise apparently well patients can be difficult and time consuming, but should be encouraged. Adoption of the Clinical Frailty Scale by all family docs might indicate when this type of discussion is important.Unfortunately most family doctors have little if any involvement with their patients in the ICU. Efforts should be made to correct this and to consult with family physicians of patients under these circumstances. Family physicians should make themselves available for these types of discussions in hospital.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Olivia Geen, Bram Rochwerg, Xuyi Mimi Wang. Optimizing care for critically ill older adults. CMAJ 2021;193:E1525-E1533.