The effects on hospital use and costs of a domiciliary palliative care nursing service.
An economic evaluation of a domiciliary palliative care nursing service operating in NSW assessed the extent to which the program provided more cost-effective care at home, prevented admissions to hospitals and shortened lengths of stay for patients in the terminal stages of cancer. Hospital use (inpatient days) and cost during the patients' last 90 days of life were compared before and after the introduction of the program. There was no statistically significant difference in either and hence no savings to offset the operating costs of the program. However, future savings might be achieved if after-hours access to painkilling drugs is improved.
Aristides
M
M
Westmead Hospital, Sydney.
Shiell
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000191:economics*