Author
- Moran Juli1
- Austin Health1
2016
Excerpt
Elements of good end of life care have been well defined in the National Consensus
Statement: Essential elements for safe and high-quality end-of-life care. However, in acute
hospitals, a "good death" can be hampered by lack of advance care planning (ACP), delayed
recognition of the dying phase, late referral to support services, and continuation of
interventions that do not benefit the patient. This session will discuss various projects in
Victoria aiming to improve end of life care in an acute hospital setting.
Austin Health has been running the senior medical staff led CLEARx Decisions project
whereby multiple processes have been changed to promote good end-of-life care across the
hospital. This includes electronic discharge summaries, Unit Doctor Handbooks, the Do-Not-
Resuscitate form, and introduction of a Care of the Dying observations chart. Registrar
communication skills workshops and 6 senior clinician forums have been held, exploring
different aspects of end of life care.
Across the state, extensive work is being undertaken at many hospitals. Representatives were
brought together for a workshop in 2015, to identify resources developed and required and
share experiences. This group has now formed a state-wide collaboration working with the
Victorian End-of-life-care coordinating program. The Palliative Care Clinical Network is
working on tools and guidelines to assist Victorian services in meeting the elements of the
Consensus Statement on end of life care.
There are multiple successful strategies to drive positive cultural change regarding end of life
care at acute hospitals. Dedicating resources to this form of quality improvement appears
effective.
Statement: Essential elements for safe and high-quality end-of-life care. However, in acute
hospitals, a "good death" can be hampered by lack of advance care planning (ACP), delayed
recognition of the dying phase, late referral to support services, and continuation of
interventions that do not benefit the patient. This session will discuss various projects in
Victoria aiming to improve end of life care in an acute hospital setting.
Austin Health has been running the senior medical staff led CLEARx Decisions project
whereby multiple processes have been changed to promote good end-of-life care across the
hospital. This includes electronic discharge summaries, Unit Doctor Handbooks, the Do-Not-
Resuscitate form, and introduction of a Care of the Dying observations chart. Registrar
communication skills workshops and 6 senior clinician forums have been held, exploring
different aspects of end of life care.
Across the state, extensive work is being undertaken at many hospitals. Representatives were
brought together for a workshop in 2015, to identify resources developed and required and
share experiences. This group has now formed a state-wide collaboration working with the
Victorian End-of-life-care coordinating program. The Palliative Care Clinical Network is
working on tools and guidelines to assist Victorian services in meeting the elements of the
Consensus Statement on end of life care.
There are multiple successful strategies to drive positive cultural change regarding end of life
care at acute hospitals. Dedicating resources to this form of quality improvement appears
effective.