The number of U.S. hospitals offering palliative care services is growing rapidly. The American Hospital Association Survey of Hospitals 2007 reports that, of the 4,103 hospitals appropriate for palliative care, over 30% have a palliative care program.

Palliative care programs link diverse hospital departments and services for effective and efficient use of hospital resources. This approach results in higher quality, well-planned treatment that anticipates future care needs.

Palliative care helps patients understand the nature of their illness and make timely, informed decisions about their care, together with their families. Seriously ill patients benefit from palliative care at any stage of their illness. Therefore, palliative care should be considered a key component of medical care along with all other appropriate treatments.

The following discuss how palliative care plays a crucial role in the treatment of seriously ill patients:

• Defining Palliative Care
• Hospital-Based Palliative Care
• What Patients Want
• Benefits to Hospitals
• Improving Clinical Outcomes

CAPC has published "The Case for Hospital-Based Palliative Care" which expands the above information and provides support and examples that help professionals demonstrate the rationale for establishing a program. It can be downloaded or ordered in hard copy.