A comparatively small number of sick people account for most health care spending

[eilen]

15. Actually, it didn't really cost that much compared to ICU costs.

She was in a sub-acute/chronic care facility, breathing on her own and had a feeding tube. She didn't require constant monitoring, just turn and position every 2 hours, basic adls, and, of course, the tube feedings and whatever meds she was on. No injections, iv's, breathing support etc. She wasn't receiving chemotherapy, wearing a life vest, on a heart monitor, etc. Her care was managed by an RN, supervised by a doctor but most of her care was performed by nurse's aides. She did not appear to be a behavioral/psych/dementia type patient that acted out. The largest burden on the staff was probably the family and their issues. There are lots of people just like her in nursing homes. They are DNR/DNI and are usually treated for infections like aspiration pneumonia, bed sores etc. If they have a heart attack though, they are not coded. The entire situation was high drama about a interfamily feud with a brain-dead girl in the middle of it. I suspect money was at the heart of it.