the average time in hospice care is 57 days.
the average time in hospice care is 57 days.
what is the average time in hospice care?
57 days
many physicians are slow to refer to hospice care, waiting until they are absolutely certain of a terminal prognosis. some physicians believe that the patient "must" have a six-month prognosis or less to receive hospice care, while others are overly optimistic in their assessment of prognosis, presuming treatment will be more effective than it is. as a result, the majority of patients are referred to hospice in the very end-stages of their diseases, or choose that time to seek hospice care. the average length of stay in hospice before a patient dies was 26 days in 1994 and 19 days in 1998. although the length of average stays has since increased, the term of care continues to be underused. in 2004 the average stay was 57 days and the median length was 22 days. 33% of hospice patients admitted in 2004 died within seven days of admission.
hospice care in the united states
in the united states the term is largely defined by the practices of the medicare system and other health insurance providers, which make hospice care available, either in an inpatient facility or at the patient's home, to patients with a terminal prognosis who are medically certified at hospice onset to have less than six months to live. according to the nhpco [national hospice and palliative care organization] 2012 report on facts and figures of hospice care, 66.4% received care in their place of residence and 26.1% in a hospice inpatient facility. in the late 1970s the u.s. government began to view hospice care as a humane care option for the terminally ill. in 1982 congress initiated the creation of the medicare hospice benefit which became permanent in 1986. in 1993, president clinton installed hospice as a guaranteed benefit and an accepted component of health care provisions. outside the united states, the term "hospice" tends to be primarily associated with the particular buildings or institutions that specialize in such care (although so-called "hospice at home" services may also be available). outside the united states such institutions may similarly provide care mostly in an end-of-life setting, but they may also be available for patients with other specific palliative care needs. hospice care also involves assistance for patients’ families to help them cope with what is happening and provide care and support to keep the patient at home. although the movement has met with some resistance, hospice has rapidly expanded through the united kingdom, the united states and elsewhere.
hospice