Availability of Heart Failure Medications in Hospice Care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Availability of cardiac medications in hospice for acute symptom management of heart failure is unknown. This study explored hospice approaches to cardiac medications for patients with heart failure.

Methods

Descriptive study using a quantitative survey of 46 US hospice agencies and clinician interviews.

Results

Of 31 hospices that provided standard home medication kits for acute symptom management, only 1 provided medication with cardiac indications (oral furosemide). Only 22% of the hospice agencies had a specific cardiac medication kit. Just over half (57%) of the agencies could provide intravenous inotropic therapy, often in multiple hospice settings. Clinicians described an individualized approach to cardiac medications for patients with heart failure.

SUBMITTER: Lum HD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5730448 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature