Hospice care at the end of life

Hospice care in the United States has evolved from a movement and philosophy to a new medical specialty that addresses sources of suffering at many levels. Hospice interdisciplinary teams use Maslow's hierarchy of human need to integrate the multiple domains that influence patients' well-being and assists in the development of treatment plans to prevent or alleviate suffering. Contributing to the effectiveness of this care is the Medicare Hospice Benefit, which since 1983 has served as a model and a reimbursement mechanism that has encouraged proliferation of hospices to deliver care in homes, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The whole-person approach of hospice care may benefit all patients and can be integrated into all medical management.