Prognostication in hospice care: Challenges, opportunities, and the importance of functional status

Prognostication in hospice care: Challenges, opportunities, and the importance of functional status
Federal Practitioner - Case Reports; by David B. Brecher, MD and Heather J. Sabol, MSN, ARNP; 7/24 
Predicting life expectancy and providing an end-of-life diagnosis in hospice and palliative care is a challenge for most clinicians. Lack of training, limited communication skills, and relationships with patients are all contributing factors. These skills can improve with the use of functional scoring tools in conjunction with the patient’s comorbidities and physical/psychological symptoms. The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS), Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale (ECOG) are commonly used functional scoring tools.