Palliative care saves money, study says
A palliative care program can save hospitals an average of at least $279 per day, up to $374 per day, according to a study of eight hospitals by the Center to Advance Palliative Care and the National Palliative Care Research Center.1
The two-year study analyzed administrative data to evaluate the cost of providing care to patients who received palliative care compared to patients who did not receive palliative care.
Palliative care patients who were discharged alive had an adjusted net savings of $279 per day compared to patients who received usual care and palliative care patients who died had an adjusted net saving of $374 in direct costs per day. Significant cost reductions in pharmacy, laboratory, and intensive care unit costs were seen with palliative care patients, according to the authors. The authors conclude that "Hospital palliative care consultation teams are associated with significant hospital cost savings."
Reference
1. Morrison RS, Penrod JD, Cassel JB, et al. Cost savings associated with US hospital palliative care consultation programs. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168:1,783-1,790.
A palliative care program can save hospitals an average of at least $279 per day, up to $374 per day, according to a study of eight hospitals by the Center to Advance Palliative Care and the National Palliative Care Research Center.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content. TESTING
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