LAUSR

148Background: Palliative Medicine consultation is greater for cancer than non-cancer patients. Decreased symptom burden, improved survival time and quality of life, and cost savings are associated with palliative care. Most patients do not receive information about palliative care until end of life, resulting in negative outcomes. We examined perceptions and access to Palliative Medicine for persons living with advanced illnesses. The purpose was to inform the design of palliative care pathways for cancer and non-cancer diagnoses. Methods: Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, patients/caregivers with metastatic cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and advanced heart failure were interviewed. This qualitative research method explores an individual’s lived illness experience. Interviews addressed care processes, teams, understanding of palliative care and goals of care. Six reviewers read, coded, categorized interview transcripts and extracted themes. Results: Fift...