title: Clinical ethics support services: an evolving model.
abstract: Ethical issues arising in clinical practice are complex and clinicians must be able to manage the needs of ethically vulnerable patients and families. This paper describes a model for providing Clinical Ethics Support Services as a broad spectrum of care for management of conflict and ethically difficult situations in health care and describes how an ethics consultation process was transformed to a Holistic Care Continuum for managing the needs of ethically vulnerable patients. During a 4-year journey at a regional medical center, a Family Support Team played a central role in identification of ethically vulnerable patients/family, interdisciplinary connectivity, and iterative engagement in the clinical milieu. Concepts of professional advocacy and interdisciplinary perspectives resulted in a model for ethically sound patient care promoting communication among patients/family, staff, and professionals; clarification of interdisciplinary roles and responsibilities; establishment of mutually derived goals and shared solutions; and implementation of interventions maximizing institutional resources.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Valdosta State University, 1500 N. Patterson St.,Valdosta, GA 31698, USA. mcschlai@valdosta.edu
authors.forename: Maura C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schlairet
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiser
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D033061:Ethics Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000941:ethics; D012944:Social Support