Nurse practitioner-based models of specialist palliative care at home: sustainability and evaluation of feasibility.
BACKGROUND
Patients with serious medical problems who live at home may not be able to access specialist-level palliative care when the need develops. Nurse practitioner (NP)-based models may be able to increase the availability of specialist care in the community.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the financial sustainability and feasibility of two NP-based models in an urban setting.


METHODS
In one model, an NP was linked with a social worker (SW) to create a new palliative home care team (PHCT-NP-SW), which would provide consultation and direct care to referred homebound elderly patients with advanced illnesses. In a second model, an NP was assigned to a hospice program (Hospice-NP) for the purpose of enhancing the reach and impact of a home care team. The revenue generated by each model was compared with direct costs; the PHCT-NP-SW model also was evaluated for its feasibility and impact on patient-level outcomes.


RESULTS
Over a two-year period, the NP in the PHCT-NP-SW model made 350 visits and followed 114 patients at home. Annualized revenue through reimbursement from patient billing offset less than 50% of the NP's salary costs. In contrast, the Hospice-NP model led to a 360% increment in hospice referrals, yielding sufficient new revenue to support this position indefinitely after only seven months. The PHCT-NP-SW model provided numerous interventions that yielded a significant decline in symptom distress during the initial two weeks after referral (P=0.003), 100% compliance with advance care planning, 21% admission rate to hospice, access to other community services, and crisis management. Nonetheless, lack of funding led to closure of this model after the two years.


CONCLUSIONS
This experience suggests that a PHCT-NP-SW model is not sustainable in this urban environment through reimbursement-based revenue, whereas a Hospice-NP model for hospice can be sustainable based on the growth of hospice census. The PHCT-NP-SW model appears to offer benefits, and additional efforts are needed to establish the funding mechanisms to sustain such programs, create mixed models of hospice and nonhospice funding, or provide a basis for sustainability through cost reduction.
Bookbinder
Marilyn
M
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Glajchen
Myra
M
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
McHugh
Marlene
M
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Higgins
Phil
P
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Budis
James
J
Continuum Hospice Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Solomon
Neva
N
Continuum Hospice Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Homel
Peter
P
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Cassin
Carolyn
C
Continuum Hospice Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Portenoy
Russell K
RK
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA; Continuum Hospice Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation