Palliative Care Use Among Veterans
Author Information
Author(s): Kaufman Brystana, Woolson Sandra, Burns Madison, Ma Jessica, Thorpe Joshua M, Hastings Susan, Bekelman David, Van Houtven Courtney
Primary Institution: Duke University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
How do characteristics and use of inpatient versus outpatient palliative care differ among veterans?
Conclusion
The study found that a significant portion of veterans received palliative care in outpatient settings, with differences in patient characteristics between those using inpatient and outpatient care.
Supporting Evidence
- 67.8% of veterans received palliative care only in the inpatient setting.
- 32.2% of veterans had at least one outpatient palliative care encounter.
- Outpatient users were more likely to have cancer compared to inpatient users.
- Duration of hospice use was similar between inpatient and outpatient palliative care users.
Takeaway
This study looked at veterans and found that many of them get palliative care while visiting the hospital, but some also get it when they go to the doctor’s office.
Methodology
The study analyzed VA and Medicare administrative data from 2014-2017 to identify specialty palliative care encounters.
Limitations
The study may not capture all aspects of palliative care use due to reliance on administrative data.
Participant Demographics
The study included veterans with life-limiting conditions, with similar sociodemographic factors across care settings.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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