On average, our nation gets a “B” for hospital support care, according to a new report released by the Center to Advance Palliative Care. The report surveyed nearly 2,500 U.S. hospitals and graded states on how many of their hospitals provide palliative care—support and coordination of medical service for chronically ill patients and their families.
Counting only hospitals with 50 or more beds, R. Sean Morrison, MD, and Diane E. Meier, MD, graded states on the percentage of hospitals that have palliative care teams. States got an “A” for having palliative care teams in 83% or more of their hospitals; a “B” for 61% to 80% of hospitals; a “C” for 42% to 60% of hospitals; a “D” for 28% to 38% of hospitals; and an “F” for 0% to 20% of hospitals.
Overall, the report found that 85% of hospitals with more than 300 beds and 63% of hospitals with more than 50 beds have a palliative care team. That gives the nation an overall “B” grade. Among the findings of which states had hospitals that offered the most palliative care:
Top 10 States:
District of Columbia — 100% of hospitals have palliative care teams
Vermont — 100%
Nebraska — 93%
Maryland — 90%
Minnesota — 89%
Oregon — 88%
Rhode Island — 88%
Washington — 83%
New Jersey — 80%
Ohio — 80%
Bottom 10 States:
New Mexico — 44%
Louisiana — 43%
Georgia — 43%
Texas — 42%
Arkansas — 38%
Oklahoma — 30%
Alaska — 29%
Alabama — 28%
Delaware — 20%
Mississippi — 20%
