Initial Care Decisions Facilitator Course

The population of the United States is aging. With it, the need for palliative care – improving the quality of life of patients with serious illnesses – is increasing. Health care systems around the country need to revise the processes involved in helping patients think about health care decisions they may have in the future.

Skilled facilitators can enhance advanced care planning by engaging those who are close to the patient so they understand, support, and follow the plans that are made. It is vital to provide OSF HealthCare clinicians with the tools, education, and practice to develop these important conversations.

This course is intended for Continuing Education Credit (CME/ONA).

Target Learners

  • Advanced Practice Nurses
  • Fellows
  • Medical Students
  • Nursing Students (graduate)
  • Physicians in Practice

  • Registered Nurses
  • Social Workers
  • Pastoral Care
  • Counselors
  • Ethicists

Author(s)

Linda Fehr

Director, Supportive Care
OSF HealthCare

Virginia Pedersen

ACP Facilitator III
OSF HealthCare

Course Description

The learner will be able to lead the patient and family in a discussion that allows them to discuss their values, beliefs and decisions for end of life care, and will be able to assist them in completing a Power of Attorney for Health Care Form. Utilizing simulation and standardized participants will assist in the realism and unpredictability of the conversations.

Curricular Goals

After ACP Facilitator Education event, the learner will be able to facilitate a patient and family discussion. The facilitated discussion will allow for clarification of the patient’s values, beliefs and decisions for end of life care. The learner will also gain the knowledge to assist the patient in the completion of a Power of Attorney for Health Care Form and/or POLST Form.

  • Describe the OSF Care Decisions advance care planning process.
  • Discuss legal considerations with advance care planning.
  • Discuss the completion of the Illinois Power of Attorney for Health Care (POA-HC) form.
  • Discuss use of physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) in Illinois state form.
  • Identify needs for advance care planning in a diverse culture within a Catholic Healthcare System.
  • Define state guidelines and process for organ donation.
  • Define requirements for OSF Care Decision trained facilitators.
  • Demonstrate the facilitation of advance care planning with simulated patients.

Assessment & Outcomes Measurement

We will be looking at learner and patient outcomes which we will evaluate on at least a yearly basis to determine if what we are measuring is meaningful and useful.

The average length of stay in home with Hospice will be greater for patients who died and had Care Decisions ACP at least two years before they died, versus those who did not.

Intermittent audit of the participant’s records and documentation, and possible in person audit if warranted.

Supportive care routinely tracks metrics in the inpatient setting, including advanced directives in place, consults, and costs of care.