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Latest hospice news, research for physicians
About 1.6 million patients received hospice services in 2014, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Healio Internal Medicine presents some of the latest research on hospice care for physicians.
PCPs can help patients who intend to die by voluntarily stopping eating, drinking
Primary care providers can provide counseling and palliative care to patients who choose to hasten death by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking, according to research published in the Annals of Family Medicine. Read more.
Dying at home does not hasten death among patients with cancer
Patients with cancer who died at home experienced a similar or significantly longer time until death than those who died in a hospital, according to results of a prospective cohort study conducted in Japan. Read more.
Hospice of Cincinnati aims to improve advance d care planning
Researchers at the Hospice of Cincinnati have developed an advanced care model — called Conversations of a Lifetime — designed to improve advance care planning by allowing the elderly to make decisions about care they would want to receive if they become unable to speak, according to a presentation at the American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting. Read more.
Earlier hospice, avoidance of ICU improve family members’ perceptions of end-of-life care
Factors including early hospice enrollment, avoidance of ICU admission within 30 days of death and death occurring outside the hospital appeared associated with favorable perceptions of end-of-life care among family members of older patients who died of cancer, according to the results of an interview-based study published in JAMA. Read more.
Hospice care may reduce depression in surviving spouses
Surviving spouses of hospice care users may face fewer depressive symptoms following their spouse’s death compared with those who did not use hospice services, according to recently published data in JAMA Internal Medicine. Read more.
Nursing home, hospice exposure predict all-cause, hypoglycemia-related hospital readmission
Patients hospitalized for hypoglycemia were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge when exposed to a nursing home or hospice setting, according to recent study findings. Read more.
Avoiding 'compassion fatigue' in palliative, end-of-life care
In difficult conversations with patients and their families regarding palliative and end-of-life care, it is important for physicians to understand the effects such discussions can have on their own state of mind, and any potential effects it may have on their practice, according to a presentation given at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine Meeting. Read more.