Dive Brief:
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Implementation of an automated palliative care program for Mount Sinai Hospital patients with advanced cancer reduced rehospitalizations and receipt of chemotherapy, according to a study published by the Journal of Oncology Practice.
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Prior to implementation of the automated program, advanced cancer patients only received palliative care consultations if requested by the care team.
- Following implementation of the program, the share of patients receiving palliative care consultations increased from 39% to 80%, rehospitalization rates fell from 35% to 18%, and receipt of chemotherapy fell from 44% to 18%.
Dive Insight:
Patients with advanced cancer who are hospitalized frequently end up back in the hospital where they can be subjected to invasive treatments in intensive care units even if the care does little to prolong or improve quality of life, according to researchers who conducted the study. Patients in this position are at high risk for pain, emotional distress and financial hardship while their caregivers report high levels of depression and anxiety.
The automated palliative care program at Mount Sinai helped to engage patients in their care and make informed decisions about the last days of their lives. Researchers found that many patients who did not receive palliative care consultations were not fully informed about their prognoses of treatment. Mandated palliative care consultations allowed patients to establish goals for their care and were more likely to be discharged with home health care or hospice services.
The palliative care field is likely to grow as the American population grows older and more money is spent on patients nearing the end of their lives. Around a quarter of all Medicare dollars are spent on patients in the last year of lives. However, as researchers investigating the Mount Sinai palliative care program pointed out, there may not be a whole lot of value to that spending.
“The more committed to value a healthcare system is, the more committed to integrating palliative care across the continuum of care they are,” Diane Meier, director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care Director Diane Meier, recently told Healthcare Dive.
As healthcare delivery systems transform to deliver more valuable treatment rather than just more treatment, some see business opportunities in the field of palliative care. For instance, Fairfield University is establishing a nursing program designed specifically for students interested in palliative care. Google also seems intrigued by opportunities in palliative care. The tech giant recently purchased palliative care provider Aspire Health for $32 million.