A Northeastern University study found that Black, Hispanic and rural patients nearing the end of life after an ischemic stroke are more likely to be discharged home rather than to a professional care facility, where they could receive better medical support and greater comfort in their final days.
“Even without looking at quality of care, this study shows that there is a bias in discharging patients, especially … discharging those patients who are at their end of life,” says Nasim Ferdows, assistant professor of public policy, urban affairs and health sciences, and a co-author of the study. “It’s important for the decision-makers to consider this when they are making a decision on where to discharge their patients to reduce specifically racial, ethnic disparities or rural disparities.”
The findings highlight gaps in hospice and institutional care access for rural and minority populations and underscore the need for targeted policies and medical interventions to ensure more equal care for post-stroke patients.
