Authors
- Kathleen M Wurth1,
- Deb Hynds1,
- Kate Munro1
- Hunter Health New England1
2015
Excerpt
Relevance
This abstract outlines the design and delivery of'It's Now or Never-Meaningful Conversations at End of Life Workshops'-a deliberately 'quirky' course, utilising practice development tools around the themes of connection, compassion and communication at end of life.
Learning
Most patients die without specialist palliative care input and generalist clinicians have a responsibility to ensure that patients and the family members receive high-quality, person-centred care. Clinicians need to recognise and respond to patients who may die soon.
Conference theme
Demand for health care is increasing so appropriate care (not futile treatment) needs to be supported. Specialist palliative care services are limited in terms of resources and there is a need to build capacity for all clinicians to care for dying patients. The workshops support mentoring/championing/clinical supervision for all staff to improve clinical practice, work cultures and staff wellbeing.
Quality
By November 2015 workshops will have been offered and approximately 275 staff will have completed the course.
Action
These workshops have been in high demand, booking out months ahead-demonstrating a real interest in communicating about dying. Practice development tactics are used to provide lasting impact and insight-examples include participants engaging in a 'Graffiti Wall', 'Compassion Circle', 'Death Bingo' and 'Letter to Self'. Evaluations have been positive and reports are available.
This abstract outlines the design and delivery of'It's Now or Never-Meaningful Conversations at End of Life Workshops'-a deliberately 'quirky' course, utilising practice development tools around the themes of connection, compassion and communication at end of life.
Learning
Most patients die without specialist palliative care input and generalist clinicians have a responsibility to ensure that patients and the family members receive high-quality, person-centred care. Clinicians need to recognise and respond to patients who may die soon.
Conference theme
Demand for health care is increasing so appropriate care (not futile treatment) needs to be supported. Specialist palliative care services are limited in terms of resources and there is a need to build capacity for all clinicians to care for dying patients. The workshops support mentoring/championing/clinical supervision for all staff to improve clinical practice, work cultures and staff wellbeing.
Quality
By November 2015 workshops will have been offered and approximately 275 staff will have completed the course.
Action
These workshops have been in high demand, booking out months ahead-demonstrating a real interest in communicating about dying. Practice development tactics are used to provide lasting impact and insight-examples include participants engaging in a 'Graffiti Wall', 'Compassion Circle', 'Death Bingo' and 'Letter to Self'. Evaluations have been positive and reports are available.