The goals of patient care project: Implementing a proactive approach to patient-centred decision-making

Abstract

Background: Patients in the later stages of their lives risk being harmed by futile or unwanted interventions if realistic care goals and patient values are not recognised. Doctors have difficulty discussing and informing patients' healthcare goals. Aims: To review implementation of a Goals of Patient Care (GOPC) summary in medical inpatients and its applicability in emergency medical response (EMR) situations. Methods: Single-centre cross-sectional study of adult medical inpatients and adult inpatients requiring EMR at a Victorian general hospital. Measures: presence and content of GOPC summary, secondary review of decision-making and discussion documentation, patient characteristics; EMR p..