Comparing the Palliative Care Needs of Patients Seen by Specialty Palliative Care Teams at Home Versus in Clinic.

Abstract: Context Understanding the unique needs of patients seen in clinic versus at home can help palliative care (PC) teams choose how to maximize available resources. Objectives To compare the characteristics and PC needs of patients seen by PC teams in clinic versus at home. Methods We analyzed data from the Palliative Care Quality Network between August 2016 and September 2019 and compared demographics, diagnosis, reason for referral, PC needs, functional status, self-reported symptoms, and patient-reported quality of life. Results Compared to patients receiving PC in clinic, patients receiving PC at home were more likely to be age 80 years or older (OR 7.5, 95% CI 5.0, 10.9, p Conclusion Patients seen by PC teams at home had worse function and were more likely to be referred for care planning, while patients seen in clinic had more PC needs related to pain and symptom management. Despite these differences, both populations have significant PC needs that support routine assessment and require appropriately staffed interdisciplinary teams to address these needs.