The American journal of hospice & palliative care
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Jul 2004
Association of admission date with cancer patient survival at a regional hospice: utility of a statistical process control analysis.
Previously published multivariate analyses have not considered date of entry as a possible factor associated with length of stay (LOS), nor has the pattern of decreasing LOS been analyzed. We set out to assess mean LOS over time and to determine the factors, including date of death, which are independently associated with LOS. Cancer patients admitted to our hospice from 1996 through 2001 were assessed for dates of admission/discharge/death, age, gender race, specific cancer diagnosis, referring physician characteristics, place of death, and heath insurance type. ⋯ Mean LOS is associated with date of admission to hospice independent of other associated factors. LOS decreases do not occur in a gradual, continuous fashion but suddenly and intermittently, and they are not associated with changes in referral numbers or readmissions. SPC charts proved to be an effective method of tracking and evaluating hospice LOS on an ongoing basis.