Medscape: Inpatient Palliative Care Saves Money

An 11-bed inpatient palliative care program that includes consultations will save almost $4 million a year, compared with the cost of regular inpatient stays, according to a study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins Health System in Baltimore, Maryland. The study found that in addition to improving quality of care and patient satisfaction, the combined inpatient and consultation palliative care programs contributed to substantially lower charges and costs per day.

The study estimated the unit would save more than $1.3 million per year and palliative care consults would save an estimated $2.53 million in direct costs. The study suggests that over a 5-year period, they would be looking at savings of more than $19 million.

“Our mantra is it’s better care at a cost we can afford,” said senior author, Thomas J. Smith, MD, a professor of palliative medicine and oncology at Johns Hopkins. You can read the full article by registering for free to Medscape.