What does state-level inpatient palliative care data tell us about service provision?

Abstract

Background: Palliative care is increasingly seen as an integral component of care for patients with advanced malignant and nonmalignant illness. Clinical audit data can provide important insights into patient care, but limited published data are available investigating statewide palliative care provision issues. Objectives: Our aim was to provide a comprehensive perspective on inpatient palliative care within a populous Australian state, and highlight potential gaps in service provision. Methods: Descriptive analysis was conducted of the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED, a comprehensive database of inpatient activity from all hospitals in Victoria). Variables analyzed included overa..