title: The value of palliative care.
abstract: Palliative care is an essential component of care delivery models designed to address healthcare reform mandates. However, even after years of existence, these services continue to be unknown, underutilized, and/or misunderstood. Often only associated with care at the end of life or confused with hospice, interdisciplinary palliative care teams provide medical care coordination for patients' severe, complex, and/or chronic conditions, longer-than-anticipated length of stay, and/or psychosocial difficulties, regardless of age or prognosis. Organizations that are developing population health initiatives should consider pursuing a strategy incorporating palliative care. The palliative care process enhances patient satisfaction, quality of care, and outcomes while reducing costs.
authors.affiliation: Novia Strategies, Poway, CA, USA. dverret@novia-inc.com
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verret
authors.forename: Rose M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rohloff
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004469:Economics, Hospital; D018166:Health Care Reform; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States