Palliative care for stroke patients: Meeting the Quadruple Aim

Abstract

Background

Stroke patients present health care systems with complex clinical and care needs with high costs of care. Prior to 2022, Corewell Health lacked the palliative care infrastructure to reach and serve the diverse needs of this patient population. Corewell Health-West (CH-W) sought to improve end-of-life care for individuals with serious illness.

Objectives

To evaluate the extent to which changes in palliative care practices led to improvements in patient outcomes and cost of care.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of palliative care referrals after hospitalization with primary diagnosis of stroke in the CH-W system from 2021 to 2023. Descriptive analysis was utilized to assess the impact and outcomes for patients pre- and post- system improvements.

Results

The emergency department piloted consults directly to palliative which increased from six to seventy-four over a month's time. Stroke patients preferred in-home treatments such as Home Hospice. Fewer patients enrolled in inpatient treatment, such as skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehab facilities, whose enrollment dropped from 25 % to 11.3 % and 18.3 % to 9.7 % respectively, from 2021 to 2023. Stroke patients enrolled in palliative care experienced lower utilization and costs.

Conclusions

After expanding resources and standardizing the referral and criteria process to palliative care, an increase in palliative care utilization was observed. This effort expanded care dispositions for palliative care services, allowing individuals more opportunities to receive palliative care treatment at home rather than inpatient.