Despite a focus on preventing hospitalizations, over 10% of the hospice population will experience one transition of care during their last 6 months of life, with hospitalization being very common. These transitions are burdensome to the patient, family and healthcare system, yet factors placing patients at risk for them are not known. A study published in the American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine describes a predictive model to identify patients at risk for hospitalization. Factors associated with hospitalization include patients who are younger, belong to a minority group, and have multiple co-morbidities.
Link to AM J Hosp Palliat Care abstract (7/2016)
