Palliative Care
Summary
Despite recent growth, wide variation in access to palliative care services exists throughout the country. A new study gives the country a grade of “B.”
America′s Care of Serious Illness: A State-by-State Report Card on Access to Palliative Care in Our Nation′s Hospitals was conducted by the Center to Advance Palliative Care and National Palliative Care Research Center and examines variation in access to palliative care at the state level in order to help the public and policymakers increase the availability of these services for all U.S. citizens. This study updates the 2008 report card.
Key Findings
Hospitals reporting a palliative care team:
- 85% large hospitals (300+ beds)
- 54% of public hospitals
- 26% public hospitals
- 37% sole community provider
Recommendations
The report also outlines recommendation for hospitals administrators and clinicians, including:
- Implement a palliative care program that meets the quality standards published by the National Quality Forum.
- Provide comprehensive information about palliative care to your patients. Patients and families often wait for their physician to recommend palliative care services.
- Educate your clinical staff in the principles and practices of palliative medicine through continuing medical and nursing education programs.
The report is available for download in its entirety at www.capc.org/reportcard
