Impact of a Centralized Inpatient Hospice Unit in an Academic Medical Center Journal Article


Authors: Jegier, B. J.; O'Mahony, S; Johnson, J.; Flaska, R.; Perry, A.; Runge, M.; Sommerfeld, T.
Article Title: Impact of a Centralized Inpatient Hospice Unit in an Academic Medical Center
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) and Horizon Hospice opened the first centralized inpatient hospice unit (CIPU) in a Chicago academic medical center in 2012. This study examined if there was a difference in cost or length of stay (LOS) in a CIPU compared to hospice care in scattered beds throughout RUMC. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study compared cost and LOS for patients admitted to the CIPU (n = 141) and those admitted to hospice scattered beds (SBM) throughout RUMC (n = 56). RESULTS: The CIPU patients had a median LOS of 6.0 days versus 2.0 days for SBM patients. CONCLUSIONS: The CIPU patients had longer hospice LOS but lower hospital costs. Academic medical centers may benefit from aggregating hospice beds.
Journal Title: The American Journal of Hospice Palliative Care
ISSN: 1938-2715; 1049-9091
Publisher: Unknown  
Date Published: 2015
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:
Notes: LR: 20150816; CI: (c) The Author(s) 2015; JID: 9008229; OTO: NOTNLM; aheadofprint