U.S. Gets C for Health Care

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081002111423.htm

Where You Live Matters When You're Seriously Ill
ScienceDaily (Oct. 4, 2008) — America does a mediocre job caring for its sickest people. The nation, says a new report, gets a C. Palliative care programs make patients facing serious and chronic illness more comfortable by alleviating their pain and symptoms and counseling patients and their families.

Only Vermont, Montana and New Hampshire earned an A, according to America's Care of Serious Illness: A State-by-State Report Card on Access to Palliative Care in Our Nation's Hospitals, a report based on a study in the October 2008 issue of the Journal of Palliative Medicine. Three states – Oklahoma, Alabama and Mississippi – got an F.
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The study suggests that in states with more palliative care programs, patients are less likely to die in the hospital; don't have to go to the intensive care unit as much in the last six months of life; and spend fewer days in intensive care or the coronary unit in the last six months.

That also saves hospitals money, which could help lower health care costs.

For state ratings, the report and recommendations: http://www.capc.org/reportcard.