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Electronic palliative care coordination system (EPaCCS) in practice: A useful tool?
  1. Pablo Millares Martin
  1. Whitehall Surgery, Leeds, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Pablo Millares Martin, Whitehall Surgery, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK; pablo.martin{at}nhs.net

Abstract

Objectives First, to assess if Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems (EPaCCS) was used by different organisations as a tool to share information; second, to assess whether there was a measurable benefit with patients dying at their preferred place of death.

Methods A retrospective analysis of the 65 decedents from last 12 months in the registered list of a single practice in Leeds was conducted.

Results EPaCCS was present in 24 patients (36.9%). It was used by more than one organisation in 17 cases (70.9%). It facilitated death at the preferred place in 19 of the 20 cases (95%) were preferences were recorded.

Conclusions EPaCCS within the organisation was not used as widely as it could have been presumed. Having a patient with an EPaCCS in the electronic medical records did not imply there was sharing of information among the different organisations involved. Although there was a clear impact on individuals dying at their preferred place of death, preferences were not necessarily recorded in EPaCCS.

  • EPaCCS
  • health information technologies
  • information sharing
  • palliative care
  • primary care

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Footnotes

  • Twitter @drpablomartin

  • Contributors The manuscript is original work from the author.

  • Competing interests The author was involved in the original project to roll out Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems in Leeds.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.