Leadership's Perceptions of Palliative Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Context. Palliative care (PC) played a leading role in the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known regarding health system leadership's perceptions. Background. This study aimed to explore the perceptions, understanding, and utilization of PC before compared to during the COVID-19 pandemic among health system leadership. Methods. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with leaders in a large healthcare system based in Massachusetts, United States. Results. A total of 22 in-depth interviews were completed at four facilities. Emerging themes included the role of PC before compared to during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitators and barriers to PC delivery, and recommendations for future practice. Participants reported that the COVID-19 pandemic increased PC utilization, reinforced positive perceptions of the specialty, and emphasized its role in maximizing healthcare efficiency. Many participants found PC financing to be a barrier to delivery; some had an inaccurate understanding of how PC is reimbursed. When asked about their recommendations for improving future practice, participants noted improvements in coordination within the healthcare system and education of healthcare providers and future physicians in primary PC skills. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that healthcare leadership increasingly understands the value of PC and its critical role within the health system and during future public health emergencies; this was further reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare leadership recognizes and highlights the need to increase investments in this specialty, both financially and educationally. In doing so, healthcare costs will be lowered, patient satisfaction will increase, and care will be better coordinated.