Record number of patients receive hospice care
Record number of patients receive hospice care
Latest study reports 1.56 million served
An estimated 41.6% of all people who died in the United States last year were under the care of a hospice program, according to the latest "Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America" report produced by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in Alexandria, VA. This statistic represents an increase over previous years: 38.8% in 2008 and 35% in 2007.
Statistics in the report are based on data from NHPCO's annual survey, the National Data Set, and NHPCO membership data. Secondary sources include Medicare Provider of Services certification data, Medicare hospice cost report data, state-mandated data submissions, and state association membership surveys.
Other findings include:
The average length of service remained steady at 69 days. Median length of service also was steady at 21.1 days, which means half of hospice patients received care for less than three weeks and half received care for more than three weeks.
Routine home care accounted for 95.9% of patient care days.
At 68.8%, most hospice care was provided in the home, whether the patient's home is a private residence, nursing home, or residential facility.
Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America is available at NHPCO's web site, www.nhpco.org/newsroom. Look under the "News and Information on Hospice and Palliative Care" section of the page.
An estimated 41.6% of all people who died in the United States last year were under the care of a hospice program, according to the latest "Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America" report produced by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in Alexandria, VA. This statistic represents an increase over previous years: 38.8% in 2008 and 35% in 2007.Subscribe Now for Access
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