• Katherine Pouliot, Carol S Weisse, David S Pratt, and Philip DiSorbo.
• 1 Union College, Schenectady, NY, USA.
• Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2017 Mar 1; 34 (2): 166-172.

BackgroundThere is a growing need for home-based palliative care services, especially for seriously ill individuals who want to avoid hospitalizations and remain with their regular outside care providers.AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of Care Choices, a new in-home palliative care program provided by the Visiting Nurse Services of Northeastern New York and Ellis Medicine's community hospital serving New York's Capital District.MethodsThis prospective cohort study assessed patient outcomes over the course of 1 year for 123 patients (49 men and 74 women) with serious illnesses who were new enrollees in the program. Quality of life was assessed at baseline and after 1 month on service. Satisfaction with care was measured after 1 and 3 months on service. The number of emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations pre- and postenrollment was measured for all enrollees.ResultsPatients were highly satisfied (72.7%-100%) with their initial care and reported greater satisfaction ( P < .05) and stable symptom management over time. Fewer emergency department ( P < .001) and inpatient hospital admissions ( P < .001) occurred among enrollees while on the palliative care service.ConclusionAn in-home palliative care program offered jointly through a visiting nurse service and community hospital may be a successful model for providing quality care that satisfies chronically ill patients' desire to remain at home and avoid hospital admissions.

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