Most patients in our health care system should be receiving a palliative care approach much earlier than they often do. Ultimately, receiving timely palliative care provides benefits for patients, caregivers and the health system, often supporting patients to die in their preferred place of death with the supports they need. Health care providers in all sectors have a role to play in identifying patients who could benefit from a palliative care approach.
Click here for a visual guide outlining how to measure this indicator.
Tips
- You can select one or more of the change ideas or tools below and use this PDSA worksheet to help test your change ideas. You can learn to select the most appropriate process indicators by reading this Measurement Guide.
- To prioritize a change idea to include in your QIP, consider choosing one that addresses a known gap within your care team (i.e., ensuring care teams have confidence to have difficult conversations); standardizes or enhances an existing process (i.e., choosing an early identification tool and developing a process to identify); and/or provides an opportunity to build greater patient and caregiver engagement (i.e., create a palliative care plan to support patients and caregivers).
- Email palliative@hqontario.ca to join the mailing list for monthly webinars and other supports.
Key resources