Study of Home-Embedded Palliative Care for Hemodialysis-Dependent End-Stage Renal Disease

Home palliative care needs are often under-recognized in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). This pilot study is designed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an initiative to enhance referrals to Penn Home Palliative Care compared with usual care among hemodialysis-dependent ESRD patients admitted to a Penn hospital. Results will inform a future pragmatic trial comparing the effectiveness of home palliative care compared with usual care among ESRD patients. Evaluating the effectiveness of home palliative care services is critical to determine whether increasing access to these services would improve patient-centered outcomes for these high-need patients.