title: The impact of hospice programs on U.S. hospitals.
abstract: This study demonstrates that hospice programs are more likely in communities with favorable economic factors and higher Medicare populations. Large hospitals with high occupancy rates and more clinical services use the hospice as an alternative to inpatient care thereby improving hospital efficiency and profitability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004465:Economic Competition; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D006276:Health Facility Size / Q000458:organization & administration; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006302:Health Services Research; D006738:Hospices / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D018579:Patient Selection; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012922:Social Change; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States