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 (b = 2.31; p < .001).