End-of life care is a unique opportunity for providers to make an impact on the lives of patients and families at one of their most vulnerable times. Unlike other types of care, the goal at end-of-life is not to cure—it’s to make sure that patients are comfortable, family members are supported, and patients can live out their lives in whatever ways they find most valuable. As such, providers must take a different-in-kind approach to improving the care experience.

With these goals in mind, this report will teach you four strategies to transform the end-of-life care experience.

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1. Integrate palliative care early to ease the transition to hospice
Early referrals to hospice have been shown to improve both patient and family satisfaction with end-of-life care. Ease the transition by integrating palliative services into care plans early on, so patients and families are prepared when it’s time to make the tough decisions. Learn more on page 8.

2. Empower patients to express their care preferences
One of the primary goals of end-of-life care is to help patients live out their lives the way they want to—and even throughout their time with hospice, these preferences often shift. To meet these changing goals, providers must equip patients with a way to express their needs and adapt quickly to them. Learn more on page 10.

3. Proactively identify after-hours needs
Because the majority of hospice care is provided in home-based settings, the care team can’t always spend extended time with patients or visit on short notice. As such, providers must predict and manage after-hours needs so patients and families feel supported even when staff aren’t present. Learn more on page 12.

4. Equip staff to manage emotionally challenging situations
Hospice staff face difficult and emotional tasks every day, and can sometimes struggle to deliver the best experience possible because of resulting burnout or ethical dilemmas. Providers must implement support systems for their staff so that they can put their best foot forward for patients and families every day. Learn more on page 14.