ABSTRACT
Hospice care may have some unique attributes in the health care system, but is palliative care better than “traditional” or mainstream care of the dying patient? What proof is there that it is as good as its proponents claim? Hospices have not been especially good at collecting data or doing research. Most hospices lack the funding or expertise to carry out research. Even so, some efforts are being made to take a hard look at the care being delivered and its impact on both the patients and families served and the system it affects.
