It is important to recognize the growing need for Advance Care Planning (ACP), Goals of Care (GoC), and Person-Centred Decision Making (PCDM) resources in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been reviewing, developing and compiling several resources that offer guidance and practical ideas for planning and delivering ACP conversations during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access resources intended to assist clinicians to engage patients in Patient-Centred Decision-Making conversations and help providers understand the conversations most appropriate to their practice setting and context.
COVID-19 SPECIFIC RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE:
- Click the link above to access multiple resources and supports, such as a set of Goals of Care Conversation Guides. These GOC Guides are meant to assist you with goals of care conversations based on the patient population you are assisting, and whether they are diagnosed with COVID-19. These guides are based on a number of existing resources, compiled to be compliant with Ontario legislation.
- Other resources also available such as Information Sheets for Patients, End-of-Life Support Tools, and Resources to Support Conversations.
Other Resources:
- Person Centred Decision Making E-Learning Modules FREE: These modules are intended for Clinician Competency Training on Health Care Consent, Advance Care Planning, and Goals of Care conversations where learners will move beyond advancing their knowledge and attitudes to develop clinical skills.
- Person Centred Decision Making Toolkit: This set of resources assist clinicians to engage patients in Patient-Centred Decision-Making conversations. It helps providers understand the conversations most appropriate to their practice setting and context.
- Health Care Consent, Advance Care Planning, Goals of Care Ontario Compliance Toolkit: This toolkit is designed to assist you with a preliminary self-review of your HCC ACP documents, resources and policies to ensure Ontario compliance.
- Resource Guide to Health Care Consent and Advance Care Planning in Ontario: This Guide has been developed as a resource to anyone with questions about health care consent and advance care planning. It includes the information that everyone needs to know to understand the health care decision making system in Ontario. It provides answers to questions about a wide variety of topics.
- Advance Care Planning Conversation Guide Primer for Clinicians: A guide to assist you with having conversations with patients and encouraging them to participate in Advance Care Planning.
- Health Care Consent and Advance Care Planning Webinars: A variety of webinars available relating to primary care, acute care, long term care, documentation, regional networks and community partners, etc.
- Substitute Decision Maker Hierarchy: Information on the SDM hierarchy based on the Ontario health Care Consent Act.
- Advance Care Planning Promotional Resources and Order Form: Browse our numerous resources from post cards, posters, wallet cards, etc. They are great tools to display and distribute in offices, clinics, etc.
Ontario Palliative Care Network Resources – Support for Difficult Discussions, and Crisis Communication:
Ensuring the patient understands the nature and severity of their illness, and exploring their goals of care are crucial conversations to support decision-making and enable person-centred care. The general approach to these conversations is outlined in the following resources:
- Person-Centred Decision-Making: Resource for healthcare providers
- Approaches to Goals of Care Discussions: Resource for health care providers
- Making Decisions About Your Care: Patient Resource
- Advance Care Planning Workbook: Ontario Version
- Advance Care Planning, Goals of Care, and Treatment Decisions & Informed Consent
In addition, practical advice on how talk about difficult topics related to COVID-19, including specific phrasing for patient and family conversations has been developed by VitalTalk, click here.
Finally, the Center for Loss and Life Transition has developed a resource that provides guidance around how to talk to children of adult patients who die of COVID-19, click here.
