Research Paper on:
Literature Review on Hospice Care's Underutilization

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
literature merely touches on the dilemma and is rather neutral, while others are critical of the situation. First, it is important to define hospice palliative care; such care is essentially  treatment that has the goal of reliving suffering and improving the quality of life for people who are dying ("Hospice," 2001). While this is the case, it often means  but not necessarily, that the patient is at the last days of his life and desires no interventions to avoid death. Beresford & Kubler-Ross (1993) provide an extensive overview of  the hospice in the death and dying process. Authors provide insights into the hospice situation and also seem to allude to the fact that hospice care is underutilized. This work  is a comprehensive volume and adds credibility to the body of literature on hospice care. Asch-Goodkin, Caloras, Coloney, Kangas & Wegryn (2000) suggest that most dying  patients as well as their families want the benefits of hospice care, but 9 out of 10 adults would prefer to be home instead (2000). In any  event, while sometimes hospice care is rejected in favor of home care, most Americans are not familiar with what a hospice care facility is (2000). Most also are not  aware that Medicare pays for hospice facilities (2000). This article is important in pointing out that the reason for underutilization just might be that people are unaware of the hospice  care concept. A 2000 FDCH Government Account Report suggests that hospice benefits to the Medicare program are important and that it is important for all involved parties to understand  such monetary benefits ("Medicare," 2000). Also, HCFA does not believe that the under utilization concerns that have been voiced by hospice advocates should be discounted (2000). This