Technologies to support end-of-life care

Objectives: To describe the current level of utilization of informatics systems in hospice and palliative care and to discuss two projects that highlight the role of informatics applications for hospice informal caregivers. Data Sources: Published articles, Web resources, clinical practice, and ongoing research initiatives. Conclusion: There are currently few informatics interventions designed specifically for palliative and hospice care. Challenges such as interoperability, user acceptance, privacy, the digital divide, and allocation of resources all affect the diffusion of informatics tools in hospice. Implications for Nursing Practice: Caregiver support through use of information technology is feasible and may enhance hospice care.