Differences in Access to Specialized Palliative Care
A study published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine examined patients' access to specialized palliative care (SPC). The research showed 81% of U.S. hospitalized patients receive care at hospitals offering SPC, though only 48% of hospitals actually provide it. The study highlights that public and not-for-profit hospitals are significantly more likely to offer SPC and other low‑revenue, high‑value services, compared with for‑profit institutions. Analysis using the 2021 AHA Annual Survey also highlights wide state‑by‑state variation and varying adoption rates within multi‑hospital systems.
CAPC's Serious Illness Scorecard, using 2022 AHA found that 83.6% of U.S. hospitals with 50+ beds report having SPC, with similarly lower rates for for-profit hospitals, as well as for rural hospitals.