scholarly journals Building a Comprehensive Advance Care Planning Approach in a Community Health System during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S-72-S-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Walling ◽  
Rebecca L. Sudore ◽  
Doug Bell ◽  
Chi-Hong Tseng ◽  
Christine Ritchie ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 233-233
Author(s):  
Sherri Rauenzahn Cervantez ◽  
Sadiyah Hotakey ◽  
Amanda Hernandez ◽  
Stephanie Warren ◽  
Jennifer Quintero ◽  
...  

233 Background: Advance directives (ADs) are legal tools that direct treatment or decision making and appoint a surrogate decision-maker (health care proxy). The presence of ADs is associated with decreased rates of hospitalization, use of life-sustaining treatment, and deaths in a hospital setting. Additionally, completed ADs lead to increased use of hospice or palliative care, more positive family outcomes, improved quality of life for patients, and reduced costs for healthcare. Despite the benefits of advance care planning, only 18-36% of adults have completed advance care plans. The aims of our pilot study were to 1) implement a synchronized system for advance care planning across the UT Health San Antonio health system and 2) improve advance care planning rates in a primary care clinic and palliative oncology clinic. Methods: During a 10-month prospective period, system processes for advance care planning were reviewed with identification of three primary drivers for advance care plan completion: a) electronic/EMR processes, b) clinical workflows and training, and c) patient resources and education. As a result of this quality improvement initiative, standardized forms, resources, and processes for obtaining advance care plans were implemented in the selected clinics. Results: At baseline, the primary care clinic had 84/644 (13%) patients and the palliative oncology clinic had 25/336(7%) with completed advance care plans. With the implementation of a standardized process, 108 patients (23% increase in rate of completion) in the primary clinic and 56 patients (71% increase in rate of completion) in the palliative oncology setting completed advance care planning (ACP). Additionally, there was a 5-fold increase in billing of ACP CPT codes within the clinics during the first 6 months compared to the prior full year. Conclusions: While this quality improvement pilot initiative was limited to two clinics, the synchronized modifications suggest that the system changes could be expanded to other clinics in our UT health system to promote ACP discussions, completion of plans, and ultimately improved patient care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingyu Xing ◽  
Guanmian Liang ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Jinsheng Zhang ◽  
Zhizhi Jiang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aging population coupled with progressive medical technology has increased the demand for improved quality of end-of-life in China. However, implementation of an advance care planning (ACP) program in mainland China is still in its infancy owing to the significant influence of filial piety in Chinese culture. Research on implementation of ACP program among community health workers (CHWs) is limited. The current study sought to explore the willingness of CHWs to implement ACP based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and provide a reference for promotion of ACP in Chinese communities. Methods Phenomenological qualitative study using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded. Colaizzi’s method was used for data analysis. The study received ethical approval and all participants provided written consent. Results Thirteen CHWs from 3 community health service centers (CHSCs) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China were interviewed. Through the analysis of the interview content, we determined that most CHWs have a supportive attitude towards the implementation of ACP, the reasons for which are as follows: relieve suffering of patients and respect their medical autonomy; relieve economic and psychological burden on family members; promote development of community palliative care. However, some CHWs believe that the implementation of ACP will lead to doctor-patient disputes and medical risks. CHWs reported that the support of patients and their families, community lawyers, psychosocial professionals, and CHSCs senior managers helped them to implement ACP. In addition, they indicated that the improvement of doctor-patient communication ability, the improvement of community medical environment, the support of government policy, and the training of CHWs were the promoting factors influencing their implementation of ACP. The hindrance factors include insufficient allocation of community health human resources, imperfect ACP legislation in China, and deep-rooted traditional culture. Conclusion Findings demonstrated that Chinese CHWs tend to support the implementation of ACP, but their willingness to implement is affected by different factors. CHSCs should actively organize standardized ACP training and comprehensively consider community medical environment, organizational norms, and human resources in implementation of ACP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Se Ok Ohr ◽  
Peter Cleasby ◽  
Sarah Yeun-Sim Jeong ◽  
Tomiko Barrett

Abstract Background Advance Care Planning (ACP) by Registered Nurses (RNs) has been emerging. However, there is limited understanding about what RNs experience as they incorporate ACP into their practice. This study aimed to elicit the experiences of ACP RNs with the implementation of a normalised ACP (NACP) service in hospital and community care settings. Methods A qualitative descriptive study invited four ACP RNs who delivered a nurse-led NACP for a 6 months duration at two hospital and two community health care settings in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The experiences of the ACP RNs were captured through a semi-structured interview and weekly debriefing meetings. The interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and the minutes of weekly debriefing meetings were utilized. Data were analysed by two independent researchers using thematic analysis with the Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) as a methodological framework. Findings The ACP RNs were females with a mean age of 43 years old. Their nursing experiences ranged 2 to 25 years but they had minimal experiences with ACP and had not attended any education about ACP previously. The following four themes were identified in the experiences of the ACP RNs; 1) Embracing NACP service; 2) Enablers and barriers related to patients and health professionals; 3) Enablers and barriers related to ACP RNs; and 4) What it means to be an ACP RN. Conclusion The introduction of a NACP service into existing clinical systems is complex. The study demonstrated the capacity of RNs to engage in ACP processes, and their willingness to deliver an NACP service with a raft of locally specific enablers and barriers. Trial registration The study was retrospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Trial ID: ACTRN12618001627246). The URL of the trial registry record


Medical Care ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra K. Litzelman ◽  
Thomas S. Inui ◽  
Wilma J. Griffin ◽  
Anthony Perkins ◽  
Ann H. Cottingham ◽  
...  

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