Since the needs of patients hospitalized in a palliative care unit can vary greatly, cost calculations should be done on an individual basis. That is the goal of this research group.
Since the needs of patients hospitalized in a palliative care unit can vary greatly, cost calculations should be done on an individual basis. That is the goal of this research group.
Most patients in a palliative care unit suffer from advanced-stage cancer. Their treatments differ, which naturally affects costs but less so reimbursement. "An excellent Swiss healthcare system for people with cancer is only sustainable if it remains affordable,” emphasizes Dr. Maud Maessen. This is why the researcher and her team are advocating for greater transparency in cost accounting.
“Our research team is conducting a study that analyzes the actual hospital costs of palliative care,” explains Maessen. "In doing so, we take into account the symptoms, patients’ wishes, available support from their personal networks, and the treatment goals of both patients and their relatives. This allows us to avoid lumping everything together as is typically the case with flat-rate payments for inpatient treatment.”
So how do she and her team go about this in practice? “We will systematically collect all incurred costs using the extensive database of a Swiss university hospital. These data come from adult patients with advanced cancer. The analysis is intended to help plan future healthcare more in line with individual needs. It allows us to break down different cost categories such as accommodation, staff, or medications in a more detailed way.”
As part of her research project, Maud Maessen is testing to what extent a model developed specifically for palliative care can lead to improved cost transparency. “In this model, we distinguish between different treatment goals, known as care types.”
An initial analysis already shows that the financial burden of inpatient cancer treatment varies depending on the care type. Maud Maessen assumes that if the study results remain positive these care types will contribute to greater cost transparency. This would make it possible to better tailor available healthcare services to the individual needs of patients.
Project number: KFS-6062-02-2024 - Better understanding individual costs of palliative care support for patients suffering from advanced cancer in Switzerland
