The Influence of Palliative Care on Savings for Hospitals: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Date of Award

Summer 2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Committee Chair

Beverly Smith

Committee Member

Steven Tincher

Committee Member

Gary Stroud

Abstract

This qualitative descriptive study explored how healthcare administrators (Pulmonary, Cardiology, or both) describe the influence of Palliative Care on savings for hospitals in the United States. Palliative Care is a supportive service that collaborates with specialists, Primary Care, patients, and families to provide quality care for those with chronic and serious illnesses. Palliative Care is a holistic service that meets physical, social, psychological, and spiritual needs. Patients with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive lung disease tend to overutilize healthcare services such as the emergency room, admissions, readmissions, and intensive care unit stays. Palliative Care savings are not easily demonstrated on a revenue report but spread across the healthcare system. Hospital leadership may not provide resources for services with a perceived decrease in return on investment. Systems Theory is the central concept used for this study. Systems Theory is how the sum of individual teams or people work together to benefit the patient and, therefore, savings to the hospital. The study's question inquired about the healthcare administrator's experience with Palliative Care and associated hospital savings. The study collected 17 anonymous online surveys utilizing Microsoft Forms from healthcare administrators in the United States. The term healthcare administrators included healthcare administrators, directors, medical directors and managers working in Pulmonology, Cardiology, or both. This researcher invited participants through a recruitment flyer on the investigator’s personal Facebook and LinkedIn pages, Facebook and LinkedIn group pages, and Reddit. An invitation was also sent to LinkedIn Connections and Facebook Friends by direct message for those who may be eligible for the study. Participants participated anonymously, and the researcher asked them to refrain from responding over direct messages. The researcher analyzed data using ATLAS.ti. Four themes emerged utilizing Braun and Clarke’s (2013) Thematic Analysis: Palliative Care Assists with Decision-Making, Palliative Care is Comprehensive Care, Palliative Care Leads the Way with Education and Quality, and Palliative Care Decreases Utilization and Increases Cost Savings.

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