Table 2.
Correlation in HCSA Ranks Over Time Among 215,484 Medicare Enrollees in SEER Areas Who Died As a Result of Cancer
| Correlation in Ranks | New Chemotherapy in the Last Month of Life | Chemotherapy Dose During the Last 2 Weeks of Life | > 1 ER visit | > 1 Hospital Admission | ICU Admission | Hospice Admission | Hospice LOS < 3 Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-1992 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 0.91 | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.98 | 0.98 |
| 1991-1995 | 0.73 | 0.66 | 0.71 | 0.78 | 0.84 | 0.85 | 0.79 |
| 1991-2000 | 0.54 | 0.40 | 0.55 | 0.47 | 0.61 | 0.26 | 0.44 |
Abbreviations: HCSA, Health Care Service Area; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results; ER, emergency room; ICU, intensive care unit; LOS, length of stay.