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Abstract
Objectives:
To assess home healthcare
services’ effectiveness
in reducing emergency department
visits (ED) and subsequent
hospital readmission rates.
Methods:
A file-based hospital-based
retrospective cohort study
with an analytical component
was conducted to compare palliative
patients under home care services
(Study Group) with a matched
group of palliative patients
who were not under home care
services (Control Group).
Demographic data, ED visits,
and hospital readmission rates
were calculated.
Results:
Both groups were diagnosis-,
age-, and sex-matched. There
was a highly significant difference
regarding ED visits, as those
in the Home Care (Study) group
had significantly fewer ED
visits and substantially fewer
hospital admissions than patients
in the non-home care (Control)
group.
Conclusions:
Home Care services can effectively
reduce ED visits and hospital
admissions for end-stage palliative
care patients.
Keywords:
Home Care, Palliative care,
Emergency Department visits,
Hospital admission
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