Population-Based, Spatial Analysis of Specialised Ambulatory Palliative Care in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, on the Basis of Reimbursement Data.

ABSTRACT: In rural areas, healthcare providers, patients and relatives have to cover long distances. For specialised ambulatory palliative care (SAPV), a supply radius of max. 30 km is recommended. The aim of this study was to analyse whether there are regional disparities in the supply of SAPV and whether it is associated with the distance between the SAPV team's site and the patient's location. Therefore, anonymised data of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (M-V) were retrospectively analysed for the period of 2014-2017. Identification as a palliative patient was based on palliative-specific items from the ambulatory reimbursement catalogue. In total, 6940 SAPV patients were identified; thereof, 48.9% female. The mean age

SUBMITTER: Leiz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9916229 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature