Citations 12
Law Is Not Enough: The Importance of Ethics Consultation in Complex Cases
Henriksen, Joan, Remtema, Megan S., Whitford, Kevin J. , Henriksen, Joan M, Whitford, Kevin
The American Journal of Bioethics | June 29, 2017 | Volume: 17 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 79-80
Impact of a Palliative Care Consult Service
Whitford, Kevin J. , Shah, Nilay D. , Moriarty, James P. , Thorsteinsdottir, Bjoerg , Branda, Megan E. , Thorsteinsdottir, Bjorg
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® | April 4, 2013 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 175-182
Established hospital palliative care consult services (PCCS) have been associated with reduced costs and length of stay, decreased symptom burden, and increased satisfaction with care. Using a retrospective case–control design, we analyzed administrative data of patients seen by PCCS while hospitalized at the Rochester, Minnesota Mayo Clinic hospitals from 2003 to 2008. The PCCS patients were matched to 3:1. A total of 1477 patients seen by the PCCS were matched with 4431 patients not seen. Costs for patients seen and discharged alive were US$35 449 (95% confidence interval [CI] US$34 157-US$36 686) compared to US$37 447 (95% CI US$36 734-US$38 126), without PCCS consultation. Costs for PCCS patients that died during hospitalization were US$54 940 (95% CI US$51 483-US$58 576) and non-PCCS patients were US$79 660 (95% CI US$76 614-US$83 398).