Effectiveness of Pediatric Concurrent Hospice Care to Improve Continuity of Care

Author(s):  
Lisa C. Lindley ◽  
Melanie J. Cozad ◽  
Jennifer W. Mack ◽  
Jessica Keim-Malpass ◽  
Radion Svynarenko ◽  
...  

Background The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated landmark hospice care legislation for children at end of life. Little is known about the impact of pediatric concurrent hospice care. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pediatric concurrent vs standard hospice care on end-of-life care continuity among Medicaid beneficiaries. Methods Using national Medicaid data, we conducted a quasi-experimental designed study to estimate the effect of concurrent vs standard hospice care to improve end-of-life care continuity for children. Care continuity (i.e., hospice length of stay, hospice disenrollment, emergency room transition, and inpatient transition) was measured via claims data. Exposures were concurrent hospice vs standard hospice care. Using instrumental variable analysis, the effectiveness of exposures on care continuity was compared. Results Concurrent hospice care affected care continuity. It resulted in longer lengths of stays in hospice ( β = 2.76, P < .001) and reduced hospice live discharges ( β = −2.80, P < .05), compared to standard hospice care. Concurrent care was not effective at reducing emergency room ( β = 2.09, P < .001) or inpatient care ( β = .007, P < .05) transitions during hospice enrollment. Conclusion Our study provides critical insight into the quality of care delivered for children at end of life. These findings have policy implications.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Won Lee ◽  
Hyun Jung Jho ◽  
Ji Yeon Baek ◽  
Eun Kyung Shim ◽  
Hyun Mi Kim ◽  
...  

Background: Palliative care in outpatient setting has been shown to promote better symptom management and transition to hospice care among patients with advanced cancer. Nevertheless, specialized palliative care is rarely provided at cancer centers in Korea. Herein, we aimed to assess aggressiveness of end-of-life care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer according to the use of outpatient palliative care (OPC) at a single cancer center in Korea. Methods: We performed a retrospective medical record review for 132 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who died between 2011 and 2014. Fifty patients used OPC (OPC group), while 82 patients did not (non-OPC group). Indicators of aggressiveness of end-of-life care including chemotherapy use, emergency department visits, hospitalization, and utilization of hospice care were analyzed according to the use of OPC. Results: More patients in the OPC group were admitted to hospice than those in the non-OPC group (32% vs 17%, P = .047). The mean of inpatient days within 30 days of death was shorter for the OPC group than the non-OPC group (4.02 days vs 7.77 days, respectively, P = .032). There were no differences in the proportions of patients who received chemotherapy and visited the emergency department within 30 days from death. Conclusion: Among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, OPC was associated with shorter inpatient days near death and greater hospice utilization. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the impact of OPC on end-of-life care in Korea.


Author(s):  
Kimberson Tanco ◽  
Regina Mackey

Caring for a sick spouse can have adverse health consequences and may increase mortality for the surviving spouse. This can be associated to a caregiver and widow/er effect, which may be related to the loss of beneficial social support and impact of stress from the advanced illness and death of the spouse. This study explores if the nature of end-of-life care that the decedent spouse received might be associated with the mortality risk of the surviving spouse. This is preceded by the hypothesis that “good deaths” may result in less stress on the families. At the same time, it is presumed that hospice care facilitates “good deaths” by optimizing symptom management, enables home deaths, and may enhance patient and family satisfaction.


2021 ◽  
pp. 174239532110584
Author(s):  
Soraya Camargo Ito Suffert ◽  
Luciana Silveira Campos ◽  
Newton Barros ◽  
Claudia Giuliano Bica

Objective To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted strategy for quality end-of-life care in a tertiary public hospital in Brazil. Methodology The study design was quasi-experimental. The multifaceted strategy was applied between January and June 2017, and involved training the healthcare team in end-of-life discussions, the creation and documentation of advance directives, and consultation with the team specialized in palliative care. The periods analyzed were the pre-test period (Time 1, July 2015 to June 2016) and the post-test period (Time 2, July 2017 to June 2018). Results Time 1 involved 302 deaths, with an average hospital stay of 21 days; Time 2 involved 410 deaths, with an average hospital stay of 16 days. Patients were prescribed morphine (44.04% vs. 36.3% [ p = 0.367]), methadone (9.60% vs. 4.39% [ p = 0.247]), midazolam (43.05% vs. 47.80% [ p = 0.73]), blood transfusions (31.13% vs. 24.63% [ p = 0.828]), enteral feeding (56.62% vs. 38.54% [ p = 0.59]) and antibiotic therapy (50.73% vs. 50.73% [ p = 0.435]). Conclusion This study found no changes in the end-of-life care quality indicators after the strategy was implemented. Multimodal educational strategies that develop communication skills in palliative care may enhance the quality of end-of-life care.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Hinson ◽  
Aaron J. Goldsmith ◽  
Joseph Murray

This article addresses the unique roles of social work and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in end-of-life and hospice care settings. The four levels of hospice care are explained. Suggested social work and SLP interventions for end-of-life nutrition and approaches to patient communication are offered. Case studies are used to illustrate the specialized roles that social work and SLP have in end-of-life care settings.


2021 ◽  
pp. 082585972110220
Author(s):  
Gwen Levitt

There are a small number of articles in the literature discussing palliative and end-of-life care in the SMI population. Most tackle the questions relating to competency to refuse care in end-stage anorexia or terminal medical conditions. This is a case review of a 55 year old patient with a complex psychiatric and medical history, who despite extensive treatment and long hospitalizations has failed to regain any ability to care for her basic needs. She has exhausted all available treatment options and her prognosis is extremely poor. The mental health community is resistant to discussing and/ or confronting the fact that such a patient faces with the need for end-of-life care directly related to chronic psychiatric illness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Di Giulio ◽  
Silvia Finetti ◽  
Fabrizio Giunco ◽  
Ines Basso ◽  
Debora Rosa ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 366-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Northway ◽  
Stuart Todd ◽  
Katherine Hunt ◽  
Paula Hopes ◽  
Rachel Morgan ◽  
...  

Background People with intellectual disability are believed to be at risk of receiving poor end-of-life care. Nurses, given their advocacy role and duty to provide compassionate end-of-life care, have the potential to change this situation but research regarding this aspect of their role is limited. Aims This paper thus seeks to answer the question ‘How and when are nurses involved in providing care at end of life for people with intellectual disability?’ Methods A total of 38 intellectual disability care providers in the UK providing support to 13,568 people with intellectual disability were surveyed. Data regarding 247 deaths within this population were gathered in two stages and subsequently entered into SPSSX for analysis. Results Findings revealed that the majority of deaths occurred between the ages of 50 and 69 years, the most commonly reported cause of death being respiratory problems. Both community and hospital-based nurses were involved in supporting individuals during their final 3 months of life, and sometimes more than one type of nurse provided support to individuals. Generally nursing care was rated positively, although room for improvement was also identified. Conclusions Nurses are involved in supporting people with intellectual disability at end of life and appropriate education is required to undertake this role. This may require change in curricula and subsequent research to determine the impact of such change on nursing support to this population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-160
Author(s):  
Yumie Yokoi ◽  
Tomoko Tamaki ◽  
Anri Inumaru ◽  
Makoto Fujii ◽  
Mayumi Tsujikawa

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