As the elderly population grows, it becomes increasingly important for the medical community to improve the dying process and avoid the prolongation of death. OBJECTIVES: Our network palliative care team (PCT) assessed differences among patients who received their services and those who did not. While multiple types of intervention data were collected, this paper will focus on (1) avoiding or withdrawing intubation and (2) preventing transfer to a higher level of care. METHODS: From January 2001 through March 2002, data were collected on 300 patients who met criteria for end-of-life using National Hospice Guidelines. Of these patients, the PCT received physician orders for their services on 111 patients, leaving 189 patients as the comparison group. RESULTS: Among the 111 patients in the palliative care program, 27 (24%) were intubated, compared with 105 (55%) of the 189 in the comparison group. Comparisons of levels of care were also conducted. Among patients with PCT services, the average length of hospital stay was 12.8 days (S.D. 14.8 days) compared with 14.3 days (S.D.=17.7 days) in the comparison group. For the intervention group, about 7.0 days (55 %) were spent in lower level floor bed care, about 1.7 days (13%) in intermediate care (IMC), and 4.1 days (32%) in the highest level of care - the intensive care unit (ICU). The comparison group spent about 5.6 days (39%) in floor bed care, 2.3 days (16 %) in IMC and 6.4 days (45%) in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: Palliative Care Team intervention was associated with a lower proportion of patients undergoing intubation and a reduction in the percent of hospital days spent in the intensive care unit. Further research on costs associated with these resources is ongoing.