Impact of Concurrent Hospice Care on Primary Care Visits Among Children in Rural Southern Appalachia.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to test the effect of receiving pediatric concurrent hospice care on primary care visits.
METHOD: This retrospective study was limited to pediatric decedents younger than 21 years with a hospice service claim from 2011 to 2013. Our outcome of interest concerned whether concurrent hospice care impacted primary care visits.
RESULTS: Of the 460 pediatric decedents in rural Southern Appalachia, 42% continued to visit their primary care provider during hospice enrollment, whereas 51% received concurrent hospice care. Concurrent hospice care was significantly related to pediatric primary care visits (β = 2.31; p < .001). DISCUSSION: Findings revealed that receipt of concurrent hospice care impacted primary care. Children in concurrent care were twice as likely to continue to receive care from their primary care provider. This finding is consistent with our hypothesis; however, the magnitude of the finding was unexpected given their residence in medically underserved areas.