Why LifeCourse
Advanced serious illness is a growing and costly concern. Individuals enrolled in LifeCourse have a better quality of life, and a better patient care experience compared to usual care. Since 2012, LifeCourse has been actively engaging with patients and families, and achieved the following positive results.
Why LifeCourse
LifeCourse participants’ quality of life remains stable or declines at a slower rate than individuals receiving usual care. They also have more positive care experiences.
“I don’t turn over the ownership of my disease to the doctor. You know, the doctors, they have the expertise, but I still live it, so I feel it’s our responsibility to be able to interpret not only what it means for us in a medical sense, but what it means in a life sense as well.” – LifeCourse Participant
Quality of life for key friends and family participating in LifeCourse remains stable or decreases at a slower rate than key friends and family of individuals receiving usual care. They also have more positive care experiences.
Quality of life for key friends and family participating in LifeCourse remains stable or decreases at a slower rate than key friends and family of individuals receiving usual care. They also have more positive care experiences.
LifeCourse participants have fewer inpatient days and ICU stays, as compared to those receiving usual care. At the same time, they use more palliative care services, have a longer length of stay in hospice, and are more likely to complete advance directives. This combination leads to a lower total cost of care.
2013-2017
BMC Palliative Care 2016
AJHPM 2017