title: The effect of pediatric knowledge on hospice care costs.
abstract: The cost of hospice care is rising. Although providing care for children at end of life may be costly for hospices, it is unclear whether or not gaining pediatric knowledge and even establishing a pediatric program may be done cost effectively. The purpose of our study was to examine the effect of possessing pediatric knowledge (i.e., pediatric program, pediatric experience) on core hospice care costs. Using 2002 to 2008 California hospice data, the findings of the regression analysis suggest that having pediatric knowledge does not significantly increase nursing, physician, and medical social service costs. Having a pediatric program was related to increased counseling costs. Our findings shed important light on the minimal costs incurred when hospices decide to develop pediatric knowledge.
authors.affiliation: 1College of Nursing, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lindley
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mixer
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cozad
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: children; core hospice services; cost analysis; end of life; hospice care; pediatric knowledge