[The roles and tasks of palliative care team in home-care].

At our hospital, a palliative care team has been established since November 2002. A total of 120 cancer patients registered at our palliative care program from April 2005 to March 2006, and 43 of them (35.8%) were discharged from the hospital. A study of the roles of a palliative care team on the transition to home-care could be summarized as follows: (1) Provide continual symptom management at a home-care setting. (2) Coordinate among multidisciplinary staffs for transition to home-care. (3) Be a consulting team on the transition to home-care. Moreover, tasks to promote an inter-regional association are as follows; (1) Cooperate with home-care nurses and home doctors to be in close contact. (2) Make sure to obtain several beds for a respite hospitalization. (3) Conduct training of medical staff on palliative care. (4) Plan enlightenment activities for patients, families, and local residents for palliative care.