Team-Based Hospice Referrals: A Potential Quality Metric for Lung Cancer in the Immunotherapy Era.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can lead to durable responses in patients with lung cancer but may delay transitions to hospice at the end of life (EOL). We aimed to test the association of continuity of care with EOL outcomes in the ICI era.

Methods: We collected retrospective data on all patients with lung cancer who started ICI treatment at a single comprehensive cancer center in the United States (1/1/14-5/1/18) and subsequently died.

Risky Behavior: Hospital Transfers Associated with Early Mortality and Rates of Goals of Care Discussions.

Introduction: Inter-hospital transfer (IHT) patients have higher in-hospital mortality, higher healthcare costs, and worse outcomes compared to non-transferred patients. Goals of care (GoC) discussions prior to transfer are necessary in patients at high risk for decline to ensure that the intended outcome of transfer is goal concordant. However, the frequency of these discussions is not well understood.