A recent study has highlighted disparities in hospice discharge rates and outcomes among Black and Latino patients. According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, Black and Hispanic patients are more likely to experience shorter hospice stays and be discharged to a hospital setting compared to other groups. Additionally, these populations face higher rates of burdensome care transitions compared to white patients.
The findings shed light on the health inequities that impact access to quality end-of-life care, noted Elizabeth Luth, assistant professor at Rutgers University’s family medicine and community health department. The study was co-authored by researchers from Care Dimensions, VNS Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Emory University.
“Black and Hispanic individuals who are discharged alive are also at greater risk for poor outcomes once they leave hospice,” Luth told Hospice News in an email. “Specifically, Black individuals are more likely to have a ‘revolving door’ experience: They are discharged alive, hospitalized, and then readmitted to hospice.”
