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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Richard Brumley, MD, TriCentral Sevrice Area Continuing Care, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Permanente Medical Group, 12200 Bellflower Blvd., Downey, CA 90242, 562-622-4246, richard.d.brumley@kp.org and Susan Enguidanos, MPH, PhD, Research Center, Partners In Care Foundation, 732 Mott Street, Suite 150, San Fernando, CA 91340.

This study tested an interdisciplinary in home palliative care program for terminally ill patients with cancer, COPD, and CHF. A randomized controlled study was conducted at two separate managed care sites to test the replicability and the effectiveness of an in home Palliative Care Program. Eligible patients consenting to participate were randomly assigned to either Usual Care or In home Palliative Care plus usual care. Baseline and follow up data was collected from patients via telephone and service use data was collected retrospectively at the end of the study. Patients enrolled in the palliative care program experienced improved satisfaction at 30, 60, and 90 days following enrollment. Further, patients in the palliative care group were significantly more likely than those in usual care to die at home, a place of death that has been shown to be preferred among most Americans. Costs of care among those receiving palliative services was 37% lower than for those receiving usual care, with an average savings of $7,500 per patient. This is one of the first rigorous studies conducted examining the effectiveness of an in-home, community-based palliative care program for terminally ill individuals. It provides strong clinical and financial evidence supporting the provision of palliative care in the home of terminally ill patient with cancer, COPD, and CHF with terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of about a year.

Learning Objectives: Participants will

• Understand the need for innovative care at end of life.
• Identify the key features of an in-home palliative care program
• Discuss the patient and system benefits of the In-home Palliative Care program.

Keywords: End-of-Life Care, Evidence Based Practice

Related Web page: www.growthhouse.org/palliative

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation