title: A cost comparison of hospice care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and lung cancer.
abstract: The authors compare the cost of hospice care provided to 25 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and 159 lung cancer patients by the Wissahickon Hospice of the University of Pennsylvania. The mean length of stay was 86.7 days for ALS patients and 35.0 days for patients with lung cancer (P = .011). The mean per patient cost was 5622.93 dollars for the ALS patients and 2658.91 dollars for patients with lung cancer (P = .057) The average operating margin excluding administrative costs was 5293.04 dollars for ALS patients and 2126.74 dollars for patients with lung cancer (P = .008). The longer length of stay (LOS) accounts for this difference. Longer LOS can be accomplished by close clinical monitoring of ALS patients for the development of life threatening respiratory and/or nutritional compromise and by liberalizing the present hospice admission guidelines.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Elman
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCluskey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing; D003363:Cost Control; D017046:Cost Savings; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000191:economics*; D006738:Hospices / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania