November 10, 2008
NHPCO Reports Growth in Number of Hospice Patients Served, 1.4 Million, with a Wider Range of Illnesses Seen by Providers
Statistics Indicate Growth
Annually, NHPCO reports on hospice trends and provides updated information on the field. Newly released data reflecting 2007 usage of hospice, indicates that:
- 38.8 percent of all deaths in the U.S. were under the care of hospice, up from 35 percent the previous year.
- 1.4 million people with a life-limiting illness received care from the nation’s 4,700 hospice providers.
- Average length of service increased to 67.4 days (from 59.8 days in 2006).
- 30.8 percent of those served by hospice died or were discharged in seven days or less.
- 13.1 percent of those served died or were discharged in 180 days or more.
Additionally, the top five diagnoses among hospice patients reported by NHPCO show the continued trend of less cancer patients among those served. Non-cancer diagnoses accounted for 58.7 percent of patients last year. The top five diagnoses seen in hospice for 2007 are as follows:
- Cancer 41.3 percent
- Heart Disease 11.8 percent
- Debility unspecified 11.2 percent
- Dementia, includes Alzheimer’s 10.1 percent
- Lung Disease 7.9 percent
Hospice care may prolong the lives of some terminally ill patients. In a recent study, the mean survival was 29 days longer for hospice patients than for non-hospice patients. Researchers studied 4,493 terminally ill patients with either congestive heart failure or cancer of the breast, colon, lung, pancreas, or prostate. Longer lengths of survival were found in four of the six disease categories studied.
National Hospice/Palliative Care Month
Throughout the month of November, hospice and palliative care organizations across the nation are working to promote awareness, both in the professional healthcare community and among the public. For the 30th year in a row, the White House issued a National Hospice Month proclamation for November -- available on the White House Web site.
“Palliative care works to bring this philosophy of care to people earlier in the course of a serious illness,” Schumacher noted.
Hospice and palliative care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families. They also serve as valuable community resources about care options.
Jon Radulovic
Vice President of Communications
Ph: 703-837-3139
NHPCO is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the U.S. NHPCO’s mission is to lead and mobilize social change for improved care at the end of life.
