Evidence-based management has improved long-term survival in patients with heart failure
(HF). However, an unintended consequence of increased longevity is that patients with HF …

Objective: To systematically characterize interventions and effectiveness of palliative care for
advanced heart failure (HF) patients. Background: Patients with advanced heart failure …

Importance Efforts to improve end-of-life care have focused primarily on patients with cancer.
High-quality end-of-life care is also critical for patients with other illnesses. Objective To …

Background Hospital palliative care consultation teams have been shown to improve care
for adults with serious illness. This study examined the effect of palliative care teams on …

Patients facing serious or life-threatening illnesses account for a disproportionately large
share of Medicaid spending. We examined 2004–07 data to determine the effect on hospital …

Context: A small proportion of patients with serious illness or multiple chronic conditions
account for the majority of health care spending. Despite the high cost, evidence …

Background Early ambulatory palliative care (PC) is an emerging practice, and its key
elements have not been defined. We conducted a qualitative analysis of data from a …

Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent and disabling
illness, few empirical studies have evaluated the impact of the disease on symptom distress …

late referral, family members reported that physicians were a barrier to earlier hospice
referral. 19 It can be difficult to determine when to transition from nonhospice palliative care …

Background: There is good evidence for the efficacy of inpatient palliative care in improving
clinical care, patient and provider satisfaction, quality of life, and health care utilization …