title: [10 years after implementation of the Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying patient; important improvements in end-of-life care].
abstract: The Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying patient (LCP) is a quality instrument that contributes to the quality of care of dying patients. The pathway provides care goals for structuring the multidisciplinary care of patients who are in the last hours or days of life and their families. The LCP should be used as soon as the multidisciplinary team recognises that the patient's death within hours or days is imminent. Research has shown that using the pathway contributes to better symptom control in the patient and improved coping with grief by relatives, among other things. At this time, the Dutch version of the LCP ('Zorgpad Stervensfase') has been implemented in over 100 healthcare institutions in the Netherlands. A digital version of the LCP is under construction, which makes it possible to integrate it in electronic patient files. This digital version will also stimulate quality assurance and scientific research.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC, afd. Interne Oncologie, Rotterdam.
authors.forename: Eric C T
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Geijteman
authors.forename: Anneke G W M
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Dekkers
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Zuylen
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards*