Satisfaction of families using end-of-life care: current successes and challenges in the hospice industry.

This study examined the satisfaction of family members with the end-of-life care their loved ones received. Data were collected from 1,839 individuals receiving care from 17 different care agencies nationwide. Although family satisfaction with hospice care was generally quite high. situational factors played a role. The timing of the referral was critical, with families rating services lower almost across the board when the referral to hospice was deemed "too late." Additionally, families expressed greater satisfaction when the patient's care was overseen by the hospice director, rather than a personal physician. Each of these findings has important implications for physicians, patients, and families as they begin to plan for end-of-life care.