Healthcare Utilization in Pediatric Cancer Patients Near the End-of-Life.

Abstract

Objective: Describe the healthcare utilization in the last 60 days of life in pediatric patients with cancer who died at home under hospice care and those that died in the hospital. Methods: Retrospective chart review of the medical records of those children with cancer diagnosis with palliative care consult and died either under hospice care at home or in the hospital. Results: Patients dying under hospice care spent a median of 44 days at home. Patients dying in the hospital spent a median of 30.5 days in the hospital, 10.5 days in the intensive care unit, and underwent 3.5 procedures requiring anesthesia. 45% of those that died in the hospital were compassionately extubated. Conclusion: For those dying with a cancer diagnosis, hospice care can allow for significant time at home with minimal healthcare while those dying in the hospital do spend a significant time in the hospital. This provides more information to both providers and families about end-of-life healthcare utilization.