Special care teams beneficial for patients and hospitals’ costs

A new medical specialty that focuses on meeting the needs of seriously ill patients may save the average U.S. community hospital up to $1.3 million per year, researchers said this week, according to a Reuters report.

The palliative care teams, usually consisting of a doctor, nurse and social worker, can help reduce hospitals’ costs from lengthy intensive care stays or unnecessary tests by guiding patients and their families to make more informed decisions and rely on resources available to them.

Special care teams focus on the sickest 5-10% of patients with the most difficult cases. Many of these patients also have Medicare coverage, so hospitals often lose money on them because they are paid only a set fee per admission.

To read the full Reuters report, click here.