Hospice care: perspectives on a Blue Cross Plan's community pilot program.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Community Health Services
• Palliative Care

Background:

• A pilot hospice care program was initiated in Washington, DC, using existing community institutions.
• The initial model involved a skilled nursing facility, a university hospital, and a local Blue Cross Plan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a community-based approach to hospice care provision.
• To assess the effectiveness of a pilot program involving multiple healthcare entities.

Main Methods:

• The pilot project initially relied on a single skilled nursing facility for inpatient care and a university hospital system for referrals.
• Referral sources were expanded to include other hospice providers and acute care hospitals due to insufficient initial referrals.

Main Results:

• Initial referrals were insufficient, necessitating an expansion of participating healthcare providers.
• The Blue Cross Plan broadened the pilot program as more community hospices emerged.
• Community-wide coordination of hospice services was successfully fostered.

Conclusions:

• Community-based hospice models require flexible referral networks for success.
• Collaboration among diverse healthcare institutions is crucial for effective hospice care delivery.
• The pilot program demonstrated the feasibility of a coordinated, community-wide approach to hospice care.