Free White Paper: Timely Referrals Key Challenge for Palliative Care Providers

Palliative Care: Timely Referrals Key Challenge for Care Providers

With an aging population that is living longer — an estimated 10,000 baby boomers become eligible for Medicare each day — and a shortage of specialists trained for the field, palliative care is no longer taking a back seat to more traditional healthcare. Nearly three-fourths (70 percent) of 223 respondents to the Healthcare Intelligence Network's first annual Palliative Care survey in February 2014 said they have a palliative care program in place, and of those that don't, more than half (55 percent) said they planned to launch a program within 12 months.

Palliative Care in 2014: Timely Referrals Key Challenge for Care ProvidersThe definition of palliative care, too, has evolved: it is no longer intended just for the terminally ill (80 percent), but is also beginning to encompass those with serious illness (74 percent) and multiple chronic illnesses (64 percent) who can still benefit from quality of care and life. Pulling such a program together requires a mixed bag approach — everyone from oncologists to pharmacists to theologians are considered part of the palliative care team that provides everything from chemotherapy to pain symptom management to spiritual support for both patients and their families and caregivers.

Download this HINtelligence report for more data on palliative care, including details on palliative care program components, results and ROI; successful work flows, processes and tools, and much more. http://www.hin.com/library/registerpalliativecare2014.html

This white paper is an excerpt from the full 2014 Healthcare Benchmarks: Palliative Care, which documents emerging trends in palliative care at 223 healthcare organizations, from the timing for initial palliative care consults to individuals on the palliative care team to the impact this specialized care is having on healthcare utilization and the patient experience — two critical markers of healthcare performance. Click here for more information on the 2014 Healthcare Benchmarks: Palliative Care.

Sincerely,

Melanie Matthews
Executive Vice President
The Healthcare Intelligence Network

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