Community-based specialist palliative care teams and health system costs at end of life: a retrospective matched cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Access to community-based specialist palliative care teams has been shown to improve patients' quality of life; however, the impact on health system expenditures is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether exposure to these teams reduces health system costs compared with usual care.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study in Ontario, Canada, using linked administrative data. Decedents treated by 1 of 11 community-based specialist palliative care teams in 2009/10 and 2010/11 (the exposed group) were propensity score matched (comorbidity, extent of home care, etc.) 1 to 1 to similar decedents in usual care (the unexposed group). The teams are comprised of a core group of specialized physicians, nurses and other providers; their role is to man

SUBMITTER: Seow H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6375224 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature