Effectiveness of Home Care in Reducing Emergency Department Visits by End-Stage Palliative Care Patients in the Armed Forces Hospital – Southern Region, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Objectives: To assess home healthcare services’ effectiveness in reducing emergency department visits (ED) and subsequent hospital readmission rates. Methods: A file-based hospital-based retrospective cohort study with an analytical component was conducted to compare palliative patients under home care services (Study Group) with a matched group of palliative patients who were not under home care services (Control Group). Demographic data, ED visits, and hospital readmission rates were calculated. Results: Both groups were diagnosis-, age-, and sex-matched. There was a highly significant difference regarding ED visits, as those in the Home Care (Study) group had significantly fewer ED visits and substantially fewer hospital admissions than patients in the non-home care (Control) group. Conclusions: Home Care services can effectively reduce ED visits and hospital admissions for end-stage palliative care patients. Keywords: Home Care, Palliative care, Emergency Department visits, Hospital admission