Implementing a Novel Interprofessional Caregiver Support Clinic: A Palliative Medicine and Social Work Collaboration

Background: High levels of burden and, in more severe instances, burnout represents a significant issue for caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Early identification and management of caregiver distress and cultivating caregiver resiliency are seldom considered elements of routine care. Aim: To leverage the complementary expertise of palliative medicine and social work using an integrated model of care to assess and manage caregiver needs. Methods: This quality improvement initiative involved the design and implementation of a novel and collaborative Caregiver Support Clinic (CSC), providing joint palliative medicine-social work encounters to caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Results: Caregivers felt the CSC provided a forum to discuss and review relevant, but previously neglected, care elements. The concerted collaborative efforts demonstrated by clinicians were found to be reassuring and comforting. Clinicians felt CSC visits prevented duplicative information gathering processes, enabled the ability to efficiently arrive at recommendations and both ensured continuity with, and avoided fragmentation of, care. Conclusions: By addressing the needs of caregivers through a dyadic, joint encounter, fragmentation and duplication in care can be reduced and both integrated and coordinated management can be efficiently provided. Caregiver and clinician experiences confirm this model of care for caregivers is likely to be beneficial and feasible.