Auditing the hospital care of dying patients

It is essential that hospitals (both acute and chronic care) develop a means of determining the status of care to the dying patients and their families within the institution. This paper provides a description of the components of comprehensive care for the dying patient, based on the discipline of palliative/hospice care, and their incorporation into a specific audit tool designed for assessing the hospital care of such patients. An audit conducted in an acute care hospital is provided to illustrate the potential applications of the tool and the nature of the questions it can raise in forming a basis for staff education, resource planning, and directions for further inquiry.