Timing of Hospice Referral: Assessing Satisfaction While the Patient Receives Hospice Services.

Generally, satisfaction with timing of hospice referral was measured in mortality follow back surveys of patients who died in hospice. In contrast in this study, investigators assessed timing of the hospice referral in patients/families enrolled in hospice for a minimum of two weeks. About 1/3 of patients/families identified it would have been easier if they started hospice earlier. Barriers to early hospice access were associated primarily with access to the healthcare system.