Conducted between May 1, 2002 - September 30, 2002, a web-based study was designed by PoPCRN, in collaboration with The Hospices of the National Capital Region, to identify current trends in hospice pharmacy costs. Thirty-four PoPCRN hospices from 17 States participated in this study. Key findings include:Average daily census for routine care = 192 patients (range = 10-680).Average daily census for General Inpatient Care = 23 patients (range = 1-304).Mean FTE: physician = 1.6; nurse = 37.3; pharmacist = 0.8.Mean current satisfaction with current pharmacy = 7.4 (1 = terrible, 10 = couldn't be happier).
Mean drug cost (per patient / per day) by patient care location:
- Hospice inpatient care = $22.46
- Home care = $11.26
- Long term care = $9.95
Mean drug cost (per patient / per day) by care level:
- Routine care = $11.04
- General inpatient care = $16.96
Sixty-seven percent of responding hospices report increasing drug costs since 1998.
Top 5 factors most significantly contributing to inpatient care settings pharmaceutical costs:
- Continuous infusion plus bolus drug delivery systems (73%)
- Opioids - long acting (e.g., Oxycontin, transdermal opioids) (67%)
- Parenteral medications (53%)
- Antibiotics (27%)
- Cell line stimulants (e.g., epoetin or Procrit, G-CSF or filgrastim or Neupogen) (20%)
Top 5 factors most significantly contributing to routine care settings pharmaceutical costs:
- Opioids - long acting (e.g., Oxycontin, transdermal opioids) (78%)
- Continuous infusion plus bolus drug delivery systems (44%)
- Cell line stimulants (e.g., epoetin or Procrit, G-CSF or filgrastim or Neupogen) (34%)
- Bisphosphonate (e.g., paridronate or Aredia) (28%)
- Antibiotics (22%)
A 10-page summary of aggregate results is available.