Short stays in hospice. A review & update

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Gerontology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Hospice care offers significant benefits but is often utilized for short durations.
• Advanced disease stage at hospice admission limits patient access to comprehensive services.
• Short lengths of stay prevent patients from fully benefiting from hospice care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors contributing to delayed enrollment in hospice care.
• To propose actionable strategies for increasing hospice length of stay.
• To improve patient outcomes through timely access to palliative services.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
• Studies examining hospice admission criteria and patient trajectories were analyzed.
• Data on reasons for delayed referrals and enrollment were synthesized.

Main Results:

• Delayed enrollment is frequently linked to patient, caregiver, and provider-related barriers.
• Misunderstanding of hospice eligibility and benefits contributes to late referrals.
• Systemic issues within healthcare coordination also impede timely access.

Conclusions:

• Addressing barriers to early hospice enrollment is crucial for maximizing patient benefit.
• Educational initiatives for healthcare professionals and the public are needed.
• System-level changes can facilitate more appropriate and timely hospice utilization.