Article Text
Abstract
Background The Outcome Assessment and Complexity Collaborative (OACC) created a standardised, validated suite of outcome measures for use in palliative care. The key features are the holistic approach, with involvement of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and the patients/families themselves. Our hospice currently uses three outcome measures: the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (iPOS), the Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Status (AKPS) and Phase of Illness. All three outcome measures are discussed in the weekly multidisciplinary team meetings, both in the in-patient unit (IPU) and the day hospice.
Aim The use of outcome measures was first piloted in the IPU and day hospice in 2012, but there has been no recent audit of their use. Anecdotally the outcome measures are consistently available for review at the MDT meeting but there is not always an available explanation when the iPOS is incomplete. This audit aims to quantify the compliance.
Methods This is a retrospective audit, aiming to capture all patients in a one month period who were admitted to the IPU or who attended the day hospice for assessment. The standards (all with 100% targets) will include:
iPOS offered to patients on admission (IPU) or at first assessment (day hospice)
iPOS offered weekly thereafter – Reason for non-compliance documented when iPOS not completed
AKPS and Phase of Illness discussed weekly at the MDT meeting (both IPU and day hospice).
A secondary project will involve documenting baseline scores and changes in scores during admission or time attending the day hospice.
Results Full results awaited.
Conclusion This project encompasses an audit to assess compliance and a secondary project to explore changes in outcome measures during an episode of care. We hope this information will help to further promote the use of outcome measures in clinical practice throughout the hospice.