Author
- N McGowan1
- Little Company of Mary Health Care1
2014
Excerpt
Background
As the Australian population continues to age, more people are living for longer with chronic disease. Growing demand has led to health care costs nearly doubling over the past decade; with significant cost escalation for care in the last year of life.
Problem
Half of all deaths occur in hospital, despite research suggesting many would prefer to die at home. Innovative, sustainable approaches are required to support the delivery of high quality care to people with serious advanced illness in their preferred setting.
Approach
The Calvary ‘4R’ Model was developed to guide appropriate care for people in the last year of life across all Calvary health, aged and community services. The Calvary Improving Care Toolkit contains tools and resources to support a consistent, structured approach to implementing this Model.
Outcomes
The Toolkit includes four tools to improve care under the ‘4R’ framework. The Screening Tool identifies people at risk of unmet needs related to their serious advanced illness; the Common Assessment tool supports staff to respond appropriately to these needs. The Goals of Care Discussion Record and MOLST are advance care planning tools for renegotiating goals of care.
Discussion
The Toolkit provides a consistent approach to caring for people in the last year of life and is being implemented in Calvary health, aged and community services. Recognising people with serious advanced illness who are likely to be in their last year of life while there is sufficient time to assist them achieve their goals and plan their care means staff and services are better placed to provide high quality, appropriate care for people and their families during the latter stages of their life.
Conclusion
The Calvary ‘4R’ Model and Improving Care Toolkit offer a consistent framework to support the delivery of high quality, sustainable, person-centred care to people and their families across different care settings.
As the Australian population continues to age, more people are living for longer with chronic disease. Growing demand has led to health care costs nearly doubling over the past decade; with significant cost escalation for care in the last year of life.
Problem
Half of all deaths occur in hospital, despite research suggesting many would prefer to die at home. Innovative, sustainable approaches are required to support the delivery of high quality care to people with serious advanced illness in their preferred setting.
Approach
The Calvary ‘4R’ Model was developed to guide appropriate care for people in the last year of life across all Calvary health, aged and community services. The Calvary Improving Care Toolkit contains tools and resources to support a consistent, structured approach to implementing this Model.
Outcomes
The Toolkit includes four tools to improve care under the ‘4R’ framework. The Screening Tool identifies people at risk of unmet needs related to their serious advanced illness; the Common Assessment tool supports staff to respond appropriately to these needs. The Goals of Care Discussion Record and MOLST are advance care planning tools for renegotiating goals of care.
Discussion
The Toolkit provides a consistent approach to caring for people in the last year of life and is being implemented in Calvary health, aged and community services. Recognising people with serious advanced illness who are likely to be in their last year of life while there is sufficient time to assist them achieve their goals and plan their care means staff and services are better placed to provide high quality, appropriate care for people and their families during the latter stages of their life.
Conclusion
The Calvary ‘4R’ Model and Improving Care Toolkit offer a consistent framework to support the delivery of high quality, sustainable, person-centred care to people and their families across different care settings.