Care Support of America's outpatient palliative care coordination model improves the quality of life for seniors

Dec 3 2009

Care Support of America's model of outpatient palliative care coordination, Advanced Illness Coordinated Care (AICC), has been shown to reduce hospitalizations in the last years of life as well as improve the quality of life for seniors and their family caregivers without increasing mortality. These are the principal findings of a new study published in American Journal of Managed Care (November 2009).

Based on a reduction of hospitalizations, readmissions, and emergency room visits, the Care Support of America proven algorithms of care show potential value for payers and hospitals who want to embrace an evidence-based outpatient palliative care approach.

"It is exciting to see payers and hospitals throughout the country working to get seniors and their families quality care in advanced illness and the end of life," says Dan Tobin, M.D., a nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care and CEO of Care Support of America. "This study demonstrates what many of us have been working towards for decades. The healthcare landscape is difficult to navigate and our model clearly shows that most patients and families are looking to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations at the end of life. Each family can choose the direction they wish once they are informed in an objective manner. It is simply good medicine."

Significantly Fewer Admissions

Care Support of America's outpatient palliative care program is an innovative service of non-directive health counseling and care coordination, enhanced with clinical software and delivered in cooperation with treating physicians. Five hundred thirty-two patients with serious advanced illness (cancer, heart failure, pulmonary disease, and renal disease) and 185 caregivers participated in the trial. The study found that patients who received AICC experienced significantly fewer admissions than patients who received usual care.

Joseph B. Engelhardt Ph.D., Care Support of America VP of Research and Development, is lead author of the study, which was supported by Kaiser Permanente and funded by the Garfield Foundation. Dr. Tobin is a co-author.