The power of advance care planning in promoting hospice and out-of-hospital death in a dialysis unit.

Background: Despite mortality rates that exceed those of most cancers, hospice remains underutilized in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis and nearly half of all dialysis patients die in the hospital.

Objective: To review the impact of advance care planning on withdrawal from dialysis, use of hospice, and location of death.

Design: Retrospective review.