Use of hospice and end-of-life care quality among medical centers with high versus lower specialist palliative care reach among people with heart failure: An observational study

Use of hospice and end-of-life care quality among medical centers with high versus lower specialist palliative care reach among people with heart failure: An observational study
Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Shelli L Feder, Ling Han, Yan Zhan, Erica A Abel, Kathleen M Akgün, Terri Fried, Mary Ersek, Nancy S Redeker; 11/24
Rates of specialist palliative care (SPC) vary among Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) for people with advanced heart failure (aHF). We evaluated the associations between facility rates of SPC reach and the quality of end of life (EOL) care received among this population. Families of patients with aHF who die in VAMCs with higher SPC reach report better EOL care quality regardless of whether or not they receive SPC. Research is needed to investigate factors beyond receiving SPC associated with these EOL outcomes.