1. Resource utilization in hospitalized cancer patients from hospice decision to discharge and provider-type differences
- Author
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Shah, Ruchi J., Korenstein, Deborah, Flynn, Jessica R., and Koo, Douglas J.
- Subjects
Male ,Terminal Care ,Neoplasms ,Palliative Care ,Hospices ,Humans ,Female ,Middle Aged ,Article ,Patient Discharge ,Aged ,Retrospective Studies - Abstract
Aggressive resource utilization for cancer patients at the end of life has been associated with poorer outcomes for patients and their families. To our knowledge, no previous studies have characterized resource utilization as a proxy for quality end of life care in hospitalized patients awaiting discharge to hospice by physician and advanced practice providers (APP). We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine resource utilization and the quality metrics for end of life care in patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from date of hospice decision to discharge. Patients under the care of APP teams were less likely to receive lab testing (50% vs 59%, P=0.046) and received fewer tests than those with housestaff teams, though performance on end of life quality metrics was similar. Our findings suggest APPs may improve quality end of life care by avoiding unnecessary or aggressive measures compared to housestaff.
- Published
- 2019