title: SARP: a value-based approach to hospice admissions triage.
abstract: As hospices become established and case referrals increase, many programs are faced with the necessity of instituting waiting lists. Prioritizing cases for order of admission requires a triage method that is rational, fair, and consistent. This article describes the SARP method of hospice admissions triage, which evaluates prospective cases according to seniority, acuity, risk, and political significance. SARP's essential features, operative assumptions, advantages, and limitations are discussed, as well as the core hospice values which underlie its use. The article concludes with a call for trial and evaluation of SARP in other hospice settings.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D004630:Emergencies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare; D010343:Patient Admission; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D014850:Waiting Lists