Patient, Provider, and Health System Determinants of Hospice Length of Stay

Background: Benefits of hospice care, such as improvement in quality of life and reduced costs, depend on duration of enrollment in hospice services, making timely hospice referral essential. Patient-, provider-, and system-level factors associated with hospice referral timing and length of stay (LO...

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Main Authors: Eliza Thompson, Daniel Sanchez Pellecer, Gregory J. Hanson, Shealeigh A. Inselman, Jenn M. Manggaard, Kevin J. Whitford, Jacob J. Strand, Rozalina G. McCoy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2025-01-01
Series:Palliative Medicine Reports
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Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0077
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author Eliza Thompson
Daniel Sanchez Pellecer
Gregory J. Hanson
Shealeigh A. Inselman
Jenn M. Manggaard
Kevin J. Whitford
Jacob J. Strand
Rozalina G. McCoy
author_facet Eliza Thompson
Daniel Sanchez Pellecer
Gregory J. Hanson
Shealeigh A. Inselman
Jenn M. Manggaard
Kevin J. Whitford
Jacob J. Strand
Rozalina G. McCoy
author_sort Eliza Thompson
collection DOAJ
description Background: Benefits of hospice care, such as improvement in quality of life and reduced costs, depend on duration of enrollment in hospice services, making timely hospice referral essential. Patient-, provider-, and system-level factors associated with hospice referral timing and length of stay (LOS) are unclear.1–6 Objective: To review existing hospice referral patterns to identify patient- and system-level factors associated with hospice LOS. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all adult patients referred from our institution (located in Rochester, Minnesota, USA) to a nonprofit hospice agency between 2013 and 2017. The primary dependent variable was hospice LOS. Patient-level variables included demographic characteristics, place of residence, and hospice diagnosis. System-level variables included referral setting and provider-specific variables, such as title and gender. Statistical analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 2072 patients were referred to hospice during the study period. Patient-level factors associated with LOS included hospice diagnosis and place of residence. Patients referred for cancer had a higher odds of a long LOS, while patients from long-term care facilities had a higher odds of a short LOS. System-level factors associated with LOS included provider gender and title. Referral by a female provider or by a physician, rather than an advanced practice provider, was associated with a lower odds of a short LOS. Conclusion: Based on a review of hospice referral patterns, the integration of hospice care into subspecialty practices, long-term care facilities, and advanced practice education could be an effective strategy to improve hospice LOS.
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spelling doaj-art-d7808f7533934f798c8d9dbb921e6fd02025-08-20T01:50:56ZengMary Ann LiebertPalliative Medicine Reports2689-28202025-01-016114415210.1089/pmr.2024.0077Patient, Provider, and Health System Determinants of Hospice Length of StayEliza Thompson0Daniel Sanchez Pellecer1Gregory J. Hanson2Shealeigh A. Inselman3Jenn M. Manggaard4Kevin J. Whitford5Jacob J. Strand6Rozalina G. McCoy7Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Background: Benefits of hospice care, such as improvement in quality of life and reduced costs, depend on duration of enrollment in hospice services, making timely hospice referral essential. Patient-, provider-, and system-level factors associated with hospice referral timing and length of stay (LOS) are unclear.1–6 Objective: To review existing hospice referral patterns to identify patient- and system-level factors associated with hospice LOS. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all adult patients referred from our institution (located in Rochester, Minnesota, USA) to a nonprofit hospice agency between 2013 and 2017. The primary dependent variable was hospice LOS. Patient-level variables included demographic characteristics, place of residence, and hospice diagnosis. System-level variables included referral setting and provider-specific variables, such as title and gender. Statistical analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 2072 patients were referred to hospice during the study period. Patient-level factors associated with LOS included hospice diagnosis and place of residence. Patients referred for cancer had a higher odds of a long LOS, while patients from long-term care facilities had a higher odds of a short LOS. System-level factors associated with LOS included provider gender and title. Referral by a female provider or by a physician, rather than an advanced practice provider, was associated with a lower odds of a short LOS. Conclusion: Based on a review of hospice referral patterns, the integration of hospice care into subspecialty practices, long-term care facilities, and advanced practice education could be an effective strategy to improve hospice LOS.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0077hospicelength of staypalliativereferral
spellingShingle Eliza Thompson
Daniel Sanchez Pellecer
Gregory J. Hanson
Shealeigh A. Inselman
Jenn M. Manggaard
Kevin J. Whitford
Jacob J. Strand
Rozalina G. McCoy
Patient, Provider, and Health System Determinants of Hospice Length of Stay
Palliative Medicine Reports
hospice
length of stay
palliative
referral
title Patient, Provider, and Health System Determinants of Hospice Length of Stay
title_full Patient, Provider, and Health System Determinants of Hospice Length of Stay
title_fullStr Patient, Provider, and Health System Determinants of Hospice Length of Stay
title_full_unstemmed Patient, Provider, and Health System Determinants of Hospice Length of Stay
title_short Patient, Provider, and Health System Determinants of Hospice Length of Stay
title_sort patient provider and health system determinants of hospice length of stay
topic hospice
length of stay
palliative
referral
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0077
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