A Call to Action Improving Value by Emphasizing Patient-Centered Care at the End of Life Patient-Centered Care at the End of Life

Bergman J, Brook RH, Litwin MS. — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Medical care during life's final stages is often poorly coordinated and inattentive to patient preferences, typically owing to a failure to ascertain each individual's goals. End-of-life care also consumes substantial health care dollars. For example, 30% of Medicare resources are expended on the 5% of beneficiaries who die each year, and one-third of costs in life's last year is accounted for in life's last month. Research indicates that physicians and health care professionals can do better. Studies have all shown improvement in clinical care by assessing end-of-life preferences, delivering value-congruent care, and coordinating the care recommended by different health care providers (ie, primary care practitioners, oncologists, surgeons, and palliative care clinicians who are specialized in addressing supportive needs as death approaches).

JAMA Surgery: Palliative Care/End-of-Life Care Topic Collection

A Call to Action Improving Value by Emphasizing Patient-Centered Care at the End of Life Patient-Centered Care at the End of Life