title: Evaluating the role and value of a national office to coordinate Liverpool Care Pathway implementation in New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New Zealand is one of 20 countries implementing the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) to improve quality care of the dying. The LCP is an integrated care pathway that guides healthcare professionals to deliver evidence-based, best practice care to dying patients and their families in the last days and hours of life, irrespective of diagnosis or care setting. Currently the LCP Central Team coordinates LCP implementation and dissemination for all international collaborating countries except New Zealand, from its base in Liverpool in the UK. With the support of the LCP Central Team, New Zealand is the first country to establish a National Office to assume the responsibility for promoting the sustainable implementation of the LCP within its own borders and context of end-of-life care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role and value of a New Zealand National LCP Office (NZ LCP Office) from the perspective of key stakeholders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed methods approach was applied, which intentionally combined two different survey methods in sequence. In Phase 1, key stakeholders (n = 28) were interviewed to explore their perspectives for the role and value of the NZ LCP Office. Findings from Phase 1 informed an online questionnaire distributed to a larger group of key stakeholders (n = 36, 62% response rate) in Phase 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When considering the role of the NZ LCP Office, key stakeholders identified two core services as highly important, namely the promotion of the sustainable implementation of LCP and the provision of a national LCP information network. Other key initiatives identified by key stakeholders as important included the NZ LCP Office continuing to work in consultation and collaboration with the LCP Central Team and to be a voice for end-of-life care issues in New Zealand. The value or benefit of the NZ LCP Office was endorsed, in that service performance was rated as good or very good by at least 90% of the respondents, plus 40% of participants perceived the NZ LCP Office had contributed to positive changes in LCP document compliance, program integrity and improvement in care of the dying to a moderate extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having a National LCP Office in New Zealand to coordinate sustainable LCP implementation and maintain the integrity of the LCP program within the context of the country's own healthcare system was seen as crucial by key stakeholders.
authors: New Zealand National LCP Office, Palmerston North, New Zealand. theresam@arohanuihospice.org.nz
authors: Theresa
authors: T
authors: Mackenzie
authors: Jo
authors: J
authors: Innes
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Boyd
authors: Barry
authors: B
authors: Keane
authors: Jude
authors: J
authors: Boxall
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Allan
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009520:New Zealand; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*