Number of hospice patients grows by 3.8%
Number of hospice patients grows by 3.8%
Hospices serve 1.4 million people
Recently released data reflecting 2007 usage of hospice indicates that 38.8% of all deaths in the United States were under the care of hospice, up from 35% the previous year. The report issued by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization shows that 1.4 million people with a life-limiting illness received care from the nation's 4,700 hospice providers.
The top five diagnoses among hospice patients show the continued trend of fewer cancer patients among those served. Noncancer diagnoses accounted for 58.7% of patients in 2007, which is an increase over the 2006 rate of 55.9% of patients with noncancer diagnoses. The top five diagnoses seen in hospice for 2007 are as follows:
- cancer, 41.3%;
- heart disease, 11.8%;
- debility unspecified, 11.2%;
- dementia, includes Alzheimer's, 10.1%;
- lung disease, 7.9%.
Other statistics included in the report:
- average length of service increased to 67.4 days (from 59.8 days in 2006);
- 30.8% of those served by hospice died or were discharged in seven days or less;
- 13.1% of those served died or were discharged in 180 days or more.
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