Aims:
A collaborative project initiative underway at Central Gippsland Health and Bairnsdale Regional Health Service aimed to identify and address blocking factors affecting the discussion and implementation of Advance Care Planning for cancer patients.
Methods:
Direct support provided to patients with a cancer diagnosis to increase their awareness of their health care planning rights, and empowering patients to have care planning discussions and document their wishes through education and increasing access to available resources.
Review of the storage and accessibility of advance care plans to ensure documented plans are stored in both physical and electronic medical records.
Delivering education and support to staff to encourage advance care planning discussions being a routine element of patient centred care, including identifying ‘triggers’ for care planning conversations.
Review and update of organisational procedure relating to care planning.
Results:
The project commenced January 2024 and will be completed January 2025.
At present, both organisations have created advance care planning patient information packages which will continue to be produced and distributed to patients beyond the project completion.
CGH and BRHS have reviewed and updated the staff education package available within the education portal. Staff are being provided with the most up to date resources and care planning information.
Routine conversations regarding advance care planning will occur upon admission to oncology services, identifying any existing plans and providing the opportunity to inform and support patients to document their wishes if they chose to.
Conclusions:
Central Gippsland Health and Bairnsdale Regional Health Service are working to redefine and expand the supportive care services being provided to cancer patients.
Advance care planning conversations will be routine upon admission to oncology services. Staff will continue to deliver high quality health care and promote autonomy in line with a patient informed health care wishes.