The impact of hospice programs on U.S. hospitals. This study demonstrates that hospice programs are more likely in communities with favorable economic factors and higher Medicare populations. Large hospitals with high occupancy rates and more clinical services use the hospice as an alternative to inpatient care thereby improving hospital efficiency and profitability. Harrison JP, Ford D, Wilson K. Nurs Econ. 2005 Mar-Apr;23(2):78-84, 90, 55. PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15881493&query_hl=17 Credit: All abstracts retrieved from PubMed, developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City ©2005 Continuum Health Partners, Inc. www.stoppain.org/palliative_care