[Empirical findings concerning transfer of dying persons]

Own studies from the years 2013 and 2014 had shown that patients in hospital or inhabitants of nursing home get transferred even in their last, terminal phase of life.

In order to describe such transfers, a 27-item questionnaire was developed in 2016. This was addressed to employees from hospitals and nursing homes. The questionnaire determines the frequency of the laying (a), preferred periods (b), location (c) and influencing factors (d). 101 hospitals and 65 nursing homes of different sizes, carriers and federal states were included.

In about 20% of the cases in the hospitals and in about 25% of the cases in nursing homes, dying patients are transferred. This would account for a total of approximately 150,000 patients or residents. Nursing homes place dying patients in hospitals. In the hospitals the relocations take place within the facility. No preferences of weekday or daytime could be identified. Acute physical deterioration of the state is identified as the central cause of displacement. In contrast, mental-psychological reasons are less significant. If relatives and other care partners are well involved, fewer relocations occur. Written patient agreements have a medium to distinct influence. Continuously insufficient staff has a stronger impact than an acute lack of personnel.

Physiological deterioration of the dying person must not result in an alarm and associated solution chain. A special risk management or case management for this group could prevent misallocation. The "Advance Care Planing" passed by the Hospiz- and Pallitativgesetz in 2015 should also reduce the relocation frequency.