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Hospice of the West: Palliative and End-of-Life Care Benefits Patients in Maricopa County with End-Stage Renal Disease, Cardiopulmonary Failure, FrailtyHospice of the West, a leading community-based hospice and palliative care organization in Maricopa County, Arizona, points to a new study showing the need for advances in end-of-life care across all diagnoses, with family-reported quality of end-of-life care significantly better for patients with cancer and dementia than for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cardiopulmonary failure or frailty. Dr. Anil Nanda, medical director, Hospice of the West, states, "Most people in the United States die of illnesses other than cancer. Yet, many efforts to improve end-of-life care have focused primarily on patients with cancer. This study underscores the growing need for patients with other serious illnesses to receive high-quality end-of-life care." The study determined that the quality advantage for cancer and dementia patients was mediated by palliative care consultation, do-not-resuscitate orders and setting of death. Palliative care and goal-of-care discussions that address code status and preferred setting of death, particularly for patients with end-organ failure and frailty, may improve the quality of end-of-life care for Americans dying with these conditions. The age adjusted chronic kidney disease death rate for Maricopa County is 5.3 per 100,000. The prevalence of heart diseases in Arizona was estimated to be 4,195 per 100,000 people and the prevalence of stroke in Arizona was estimated to be 2,457 per 100,000 people. Forty million Americans provide unpaid assistance and support to an aging loved one in the U.S., leading to a rise in financial and emotional stress. "Not surprisingly, patient and caregiver satisfaction is waning, with the exception of those who have accessed hospice, palliative care and EOL services," Dr. Nanda adds, "We offer Medicare Advantage Plans, Accountable Care Organizations, and Integrated Delivery Networks an opportunity to identify patients with a poor prognosis for every type of disease earlier to help manage their care and prevent non-beneficial healthcare services." About Hospice of the West Hospice of the West is a community based Hospice and Palliative Care organization based in Maricopa County, Arizona and is committed to serving the unique needs of individuals facing a serious illness and providing ongoing support to patient families and loved ones. http://hospicewestaz.com/
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