Journal of palliative medicine
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Multicenter Study
Palliative care benchmarks from academic medical centers.
Palliative care is growing in the United States but little is known about the quality of care delivered. ⋯ The study reveals significant opportunities for improvement in the effective delivery of palliative care. Care that met KPM was associated with improved quality, reduced costs and LOS. Institutions that benchmarked above 90% did so by integrating KPM into daily care processes and utilizing systematized triggers, forms and default pathways. The presence of a formalized palliative care program within a hospital system had a positive effect on the achievement of KPM, whether or not formal consultation occurred. Hospitals need to develop systematic methods to improve access to palliative care.