Improving Patient and Clinician Home Hospice Experience with Telemedicine

Integration of the oncologist in the development of the patient's end-of-life care plan and medical decision-making process ("shared care") during the transition to hospice may remove known barriers to end-of-life care and impact the patient, family and care team's experience. This study serves to assess the feasibility of implementing this shared care model in a single-center, community-based hospital system, and measure the impact of the use of telemedicine to integrate the oncologist in the hospice setting.

This study aims to evaluate the experience of the patient and of the primary caregiver in utilization of telemedicine appointments in developing end-of-life care. Transitioning to end-of-life care can introduce difficulties and barriers for the patient, their family, and the care team involved. These difficulties can stem from multiple health problems related to complex diseases, past treatment related toxicities, and extend to diminishing the therapeutic relationship of the patient and families with their oncology care team as care is transitioned to a hospice team. This potential decline in the therapeutic relationship can have negative impacts on both the patient and the oncology team. In utilizing telemedicine, a home hospice care team can collaborate in real time with the office-based oncology team in providing the best care possible for the patient.

Criteria:

• Individuals 18 years of age or older who have access to and familiarity with basic technology including: computer, smart phone, tablet, or equivalent, as well as a reliable internet connection
• English or Spanish speaking
• Eligible for home hospice care

Locations: Hartford Hospital, Hospital of Central Connecticut

Contact: Susanne.Morrill@hhchealth.org, 860-972-1588