Reading Time: < 1 minuteFor patients with advanced renal disease, medical management without dialysis is an underutilized treatment approach that may better align with patients’ goals of care and ultimately offer better quality, improved patient experience, and reduced costs. These are all important factors to consider when building a comprehensive kidney care model. In the white paper, Building a Comprehensive Kidney[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesDementia is a term used to describe neurodegenerative brain disorders with symptoms that include a decline in memory, reasoning, and a gradual loss of the cognitive abilities needed to carry out daily living activities. These abnormal brain changes also affect behavior, emotions, and relationships. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe COVID-19 pandemic is an unsettling and anxiety-inducing time for everyone. Frontline healthcare workers are especially vulnerable to negative mental health effects as they continue to care for sick patients while dealing with worries about contracting the virus themselves and bringing it home to their families. Many are struggling with fears related to a lack[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe COVID-19 crisis has shed new light on the critical role of palliative care teams. As hospital-based doctors and nurses deal with new and unanticipated ways of delivering medical care, palliative care clinicians are able to share their unique expertise to support patients, caregivers and providers. In a recent editorial, The Lancet pointed out that[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuality improvement (QI) initiatives are key to improving clinical outcomes, enhancing patient experience and reducing costs within healthcare organizations. However, an estimated 70% of large-scale change programs fail. Unfortunately, performance improvement efforts that are poorly executed result in very little – if any – sustainable change, while using up time, money and resources. There is[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesAs the coronavirus sweeps through the country, healthcare facilities are changing visitation policies in an attempt to control the spread of the infection. Visitors are now prohibited in most hospitals in the U.S. On March 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented national restrictions that prevent family members from visiting loved ones[…]
Reading Time: 5 minutesAs healthcare professionals and communities respond to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, it is crucial to have access to reliable and timely information. We have compiled a list of trusted COVID-19 resources that provide clinical guidance, helpful tools and news updates, as well as information geared to patients and communities. COVID-19 Resources for[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe COVID-19 pandemic is bringing considerable uncertainty and fear to people across the globe. As U.S. health systems try to prepare for potentially millions of hospitalizations associated with the novel coronavirus, healthcare professionals are already managing an influx of affected patients. This unpredictable health crisis should be a call to action to initiate advance care[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, clinical social workers help manage the difficult issues that can arise at the end of life. They are experts at supporting patients, families and caregivers as they cope with emotional distress and navigate the healthcare system. They also play a critical role in ensuring patients’ wishes are honored[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutes“The greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.” – Nurse Florence Nightingale Nurses impact patient care and make a difference in people’s lives every single day. As front-line caregivers, nurses advocate for their patients and use evidence-based practices to[…]
Reading Time: 5 minutesFacilitating an improvement initiative in an outpatient practice setting brings its own set of questions and issues that must be addressed. While there are similar considerations related to implementation in hospital and ambulatory settings, there are challenges and barriers unique to the smaller practice environment. To follow is a series of questions that can be[…]
Reading Time: 5 minutesSuccessful implementation of an improvement initiative in a hospital environment typically involves many key stakeholders, clinical and technical considerations, as well as end-users. With so many clinical factors and technical details to manage, it is important to address the right questions at every stage of implementation. Below are a series of considerations your team can[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis four-part implementation series explores expected challenges healthcare organizations may encounter when adopting an improvement initiative. Each article provides tips for effective implementation based on our experience working with organizations to successfully execute an advance care planning initiative. The first installment took a closer look at the challenge of training clinicians to develop the skills[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis four-part implementation series explores expected challenges healthcare organizations may encounter when adopting an improvement initiative. Each article provides tips for effective implementation based on our experience working with organizations to successfully execute an advance care planning initiative. The first installment takes a closer look at clinician training for developing the skills necessary to effectively[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesHow often do patients really comprehend what they are being told when their doctor explains a medical condition or procedure? Not often enough. A recent study found that only 5% of cancer patients had an accurate understanding of their prognoses. Unfortunately, if a patient is not clear about their treatment options or does not understand[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe U.S. has a health literacy problem. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly nine out of ten adults lack the necessary skills to manage their health and prevent disease. Low patient health literacy has been linked to higher rates of chronic illnesses and preventable hospitalizations, poor self-care and less frequent[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutesPlan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) is a quality improvement method that healthcare teams use to quickly and efficiently test new interventions. This concept involves structured, iterative tests of change. The simplicity of this experimental learning method means that it can be applied to many different situations. While PDSA is easy to follow, it is not meant to be[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutesHealth technologies have the power to transform the delivery of care. Advance care planning (ACP) is an important element within healthcare that helps ensure people receive the care they want at end of life. As many health systems work toward formalizing processes for ACP, health technologies can be valuable tools for overcoming obstacles that create gaps[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe adoption of shared decision making (SDM) into routine practice is all too often elusive. Even though SDM is the foundation for patient-centered care, its implementation can be a challenge as a result of numerous barriers. Understanding SDM SDM happens when patients and their providers work together to determine the best path of medical treatment for each[…]
Reading Time: 2 minutesACP Decisions is pleased to announce that two more of its decision aids focused on end-of-life care have been certified by the Washington State Health Care Authority. ACP Decisions is one of a few organizations in the U.S. to receive certification within the end-of-life care category. Washington was the first state to establish a formal[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesFor many clinicians, broaching the topic of serious illness is challenging. It’s not easy to share the news of a poor prognosis and to witness the pain of the patients and families on the receiving end. Having a conversation near the end of life can feel like an acknowledgement that the care provided has failed. […]
Reading Time: 2 minutesA new training resource has been added to our content library and is now available on My ACP Decisions. The new offering consists of a four-part video series that guides clinicians through the advance care planning process with patients, from introducing the concept to translating the conversation into an actionable plan. Each video is accompanied[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesConversations about death and serious illness are not easy to have. Even though about 90% of people believe that talking about end-of-life decisions is important, only 27% report actually doing so. It’s true: it can be uncomfortable and awkward to bring these topics up with someone you care about. However, finding a way to discuss what kind[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesAs our healthcare system transitions from a one-sided medical decision-making approach to one that involves both patients and clinicians in shared decision-making, the need for tools to enhance this new model has grown. These patient decision aids can come in the form of educational pamphlets, interactive applications, healthcare directive templates, and videos. On the upside,[…]
Reading Time: 5 minutesAs a pioneering organization established to empower patients and their families to engage in shared decision making with their healthcare providers, ACP Decisions is a leader in the creation and dissemination of video-based decision aids in the advance care planning space. In the following Q&A, ACP Decisions Co-Founder & CEO Aretha Delight Davis, MD, JD shares her personal journey[…]
Reading Time: 2 minutesACP Decisions is pleased to announce a new partnership with Aetna that includes the ACP Decisions Video Library as part of Aetna’s award-winning Compassionate Care Program, which aims to empower members with a serious illness. Aetna Nurse Case Managers will be able to use ACP Decisions’ videos to help guide members, who are at risk for[…]
Reading Time: 7 minutesAs you may (or may not) know, there are many online resources available to assist with advance care planning. We’ve put together a list of several links to advance care planning resources and related topics for health care professionals, as well as for patients and their caregivers. You can access our glossary of terms here. Professional[…]
Reading Time: 6 minutesAdvance Care Planning (ACP) 101 begins right here with a list of commonly associated advance care planning terms. Stay tuned for Part 2, which will provide a comprehensive list of resources for advance care planning. Advance Care Planning An ongoing communication process that involves clarifying and documenting an individual’s wishes, values, preferences and goals regarding[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutesAdvance care planning (ACP) doesn’t just happen. It’s not a conversation most people want to have. They find it uncomfortable and awkward. Yet, the ACP process is critically important to ensuring people receive the care they want during a time they cannot speak for themselves. ACP promises a better quality of life when facing serious illness and[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesOver the last decade, there has been a healthcare revolution. Driven by access to information via the internet and the adoption of digital devices, patients have transformed into consumers of healthcare, demanding more empowerment and autonomy. These changes have created an environment in which shared decision making (SDM) between patients and providers is a basic requirement[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesStudies estimate that anywhere from 250,000 to 440,000 people in the U.S. die every year due to preventable medical errors. While very little research on patient safety has been done specifically for patients in palliative care, they are more vulnerable to errors and related adverse events. The end-of-life is a vulnerable time. Multiple healthcare transitions, changes in[…]
Reading Time: 2 minutesACP Decisions is pleased to announce that eighteen of its decision aids focused on end-of-life care have been certified by the Washington State Health Care Authority. ACP Decisions is one of only four organizations in the U.S. to receive certification within the end-of-life care category. Washington is the first state to establish a formal process[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutesDriven by the baby boomer generation, there has been a 36% increase in the number of Medicare beneficiaries over the last decade. In 2007, there were 44 million enrolled for Medicare Services; today, there are almost 60 million. This only represents a portion of baby boomers — an estimated 10,000 people turn 65 every day.[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesShared decision making (SDM) in healthcare requires active participation by both patients and providers as they share information and jointly make decisions based on the individual needs of patients. This sounds simpler then it often is in practice. It is not uncommon for the adoption of shared decision making in clinical settings to be slow due[…]
Reading Time: 3 minutesMost of us live in a world full of choices – ranging from the most mundane to complex, life-changing decisions. Undoubtedly, healthcare decisions are among the most significant we may make at some point. Often, when the time comes to make important medical decisions, many people are overwhelmed and unable to fully comprehend all their[…]
Reading Time: 4 minutesWhether your healthcare organization has an advance care planning initiative in place or is still in the discussion phase, you may find the process has stalled and needs a jump-start. National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is a perfect time to focus on and reinvigorate an advance care planning program. National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) National[…]
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIn this Case Study, St. Agnes Heart Failure Center implemented ACP Decisions’ Video Library to meet the cardiovascular health needs of the Great Baltimore community. This nurse led initiative led to a more efficient advance care planning process, better patient accessibility to important health content, and a significant increase in the completion of advance care[…]
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released a comprehensive report on care near the end of life in the United States entitled “Dying in America: Improving Quality & Honoring Individual Preferences Near the End of Life.” This report builds on the 1998 IOM report “Approaching Death: Improving Care at the End of Life.” The report[…]
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe United States is the 5th largest Spanish speaking country in the world with over 37 million people who speak Spanish at home. We are committed to making our evidence-based offerings available to patients of diverse populations and are excited to announce 3 new additions to our library of video decision aides. We have recently[…]
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe May 2013 edition of The Atlantic just released a feature article (“How Not to Die”) by Jonathan Rauch about Dr. Volandes and ACP Decisions™ “low-tech, high-empathy plan” to revolutionize end-of-life care. The article not only tells the story behind the creation of ACP Decisions™ but also describes its videos as “inexpensive and low-tech,” highlighting that[…]
