With its focus on improving quality of life, advanced illness and/or post-acute care is distinct from care intended to cure an illness or condition, although it can be delivered concurrently with curative therapies. Advanced illness care focuses on medical care for people living with a serious illness. It aims to address the symptoms or stress related to the illness and improve the overall experience and/or quality of life for patients, caregivers, and family members. Advanced illness care may also include palliative and hospice care, which includes comprehensive care that addresses medical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs during the last stages of a person’s terminal illness.
Post-acute care includes medical or supportive care provided to individuals after they leave an acute care setting, such as a hospital, but are not ready to return home. This includes rehabilitation, home care, and even palliative care services.
This committee considers measures that address conditions including cancer and end-stage disease (e.g., end-stage renal disease). Subtopics may include advanced illness management, the assessment of physical, emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual aspects of care, access to and timeliness of care, patient and family experience with care, patient and family engagement, care planning, hospice care, palliative and end-of-life care, chemotherapy, rescue, home care, and intensive care unit (ICU) care.