Healthcare Utilization in Pediatric Cancer Patients Near the End-of-Life

<b>Objective:</b> Describe the healthcare utilization in the last 60 days of life in pediatric patients with cancer who died at home under hospice care and those that died in the hospital. <b>Methods:</b> Retrospective chart review of the medical records of those children with cancer diagnosis with palliative care consult and died either under hospice care at home or in the hospital. <b>Results:</b> Patients dying under hospice care spent a median of 44 days at home. Patients dying in the hospital spent a median of 30.5 days in the hospital, 10.5 days in the intensive care unit, and underwent 3.5 procedures requiring anesthesia. 45% of those that died in the hospital were compassionately extubated. <b>Conclusion:</b> For those dying with a cancer diagnosis, hospice care can allow for significant time at home with minimal healthcare while those dying in the hospital do spend a significant time in the hospital. This provides more information to both providers and families about end-of-life healthcare utilization.