Beyond Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis diagnosis: Multidisciplinary care with an early integrated palliative approach is associated with a decrease in acute care utilization and hospital deaths

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, incurable interstitial lung disease with heavy symptom burden and poor quality of life. The last year of life is characterized by increased acute care utilization and hospital deaths. Clinical guidelines recommend early integration of palliative care but is rarely implemented. In 2012, we reorganized our clinic into a multidisciplinary team comprising two pulmonologists (expertise in ILD and palliative respiratory care respectively), nurse, respiratory therapist, physiotherapist, and a dietitian.

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