Cost Savings from Palliative Care Teams and Guidance for a Financially Viable Palliative Care Program. (15th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCarthy, Ian M.; Robinson, Chessie; Huq, Sakib; Philastre, Martha; Fine, Robert L.
• Is Part Of: Health services research. Volume 50:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 236
• Publication Date: 2014-07-15
• Subjects: Medical care -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Hospital care -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Periodicals; 362
• DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12203
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-9124

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="hesr12203-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hesr12203-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To quantify the cost savings of palliative care (PC) and identify differences in savings according to team structure, patient diagnosis, and timing of consult.</p> </sec> <sec id="hesr12203-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Data Sources</title> <p>Hospital administrative records on all inpatient stays at five hospital campuses from January 2009 through June 2012.</p> </sec> <sec id="hesr12203-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Study Design</title> <p>The analysis matched PC patients to non‐PC patients (separately by discharge status) using propensity score methods. Weighted generalized linear model regressions of hospital costs were estimated for the matched groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="hesr12203-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Data Collection</title> <p>Data were restricted to patients at least 18 years old with inpatient stays of between 7 and 30 days. Variables available included patient demographics, primary and secondary diagnoses, hospital costs incurred for the inpatient stay, and when/if the patient had a PC consult.</p> </sec> <sec id="hesr12203-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Principal Findings</title> <p>We found overall cost savings from PC of $3, 426 per patient for those dying in the hospital. No significant cost savings were found for patients discharged alive; however, significant cost savings for patients discharged alive could be achieved for certain diagnoses, PC team structures, or if consults occurred within 10 days of admission.</p> </sec> <sec id="hesr12203-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Appropriately selected and timed PC consults with physician and RN involvement can help ensure a financially viable PC program via cost savings to the hospital.</p> </sec> </abstract>