The Journal of community and supportive oncology
-
J Community Support Oncol · Apr 2014
Late referral to palliative care consultation service: length of stay and in-hospital mortality outcomes.
Palliative care services in the United States are increasing in their prevalence but continue to vary in their implementation, with different referral policies and timing of patient access to services. ⋯ Our study suggests that late referrals may have a marked negative impact on health outcomes, which argues for the design and implementation of hospital policies that encourage early referral to palliative care for advanced cancer patients.