Telehospice: Using Telecommunication Technology for Terminally Ill Patients

In 2000, a bi-state telehospice project was launched in Michigan and Kansas, designed to provide end-of-life services to hospice patients and their caregivers. Videophones were placed in the homes of hospice patients and hospice providers used this technology to supplement traditional care. This paper presents preliminary results from the first of this two-year project. Methods: Hospice providers (nurses and social workers) completed pre-perception surveys. Hospice patients/caregivers participated in open-ended telephone interviews. Patients choosing not to receive the service completed a decline survey to document the reasons for their decision. Finally, activity logs and patient charts yielded utilization data. Results: Hospice providers are cautiously enthusiastic about telehospice, but initially skeptical about the comparable quality with traditional visits. Patients and caregivers using telehospice, on the other hand, are uniformly positive about the service and wish to see increased utilization within their own care plans. Utilization data indicate steady use with decline forms reflecting some patients' hesitancy in receiving the service in the first place due to feeling overwhelmed.