title: A residential aged care end-of-life care pathway (RAC EoLCP) for Australian aged care facilities.
abstract: The objective of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate an end-of-life (terminal) care pathway and associated infrastructure suitable for Australian residential aged care facilities that improves resident and health system outcomes. The residential aged care end-of-life care pathway was developed by a multidisciplinary collaboration of government and non-government professionals and incorporated best clinical management for dying residents to guide care and increase palliative care capacity of generalist staff. Implementation included identifying and up-skilling Link Nurses to champion the pathway, networking facilities with specialist palliative care services, delivering education to generalists and commencing a Palliative Care Medication Imprest System in each facility. The primary outcome measure for evaluation was transfer to hospital; secondary measures included staff perceived changes in quality of palliative care provided and family satisfaction with care. Results indicated that the pathway, delivered within a care framework that guides provision of palliative care, resulted in improved resident outcomes and decreased inappropriate transfers to acute care settings.
authors.affiliation: Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative, Queensland Health and Griffith University School of Medicine, Eight Mile Plains, QLD 4113, Australia. fiona_israel@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reymond
authors.forename: Fiona J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Charles
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012112:Residential Facilities; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*