Early-identification-assessment-palliative-needs-hospital

INDICATOR NAME

Name

Documented assessment of palliative care needs among patients with progressive, life-limiting illness who were identified to benefit from palliative care (Hospital)

Alternate Name

Documented assessment of palliative care needs among patients with progressive, life-limiting illness who were identified to benefit from palliative care (Hospital)

INDICATOR DESCRIPTION

Description

This indicator measures the proportion of hospitalizations where patients with a progressive, life-limiting illness are identified to benefit from palliative care, and subsequently (within the episode of care) have their palliative care needs assessed using a comprehensive and holistic assessment.

Indicator Status

Active

HQO Reporting tool/product

Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs)

Dimension

Effective

Type

Outcome

DEFINITION AND SOURCE INFORMATION

Unit of Measurement

Proportion

Calculation Methods

Numerator / Denominator

Numerator including inclusion/exclusion

Quality Standards: Definitions Used Within This Quality Statement states that the usual categories of palliative care needs included in a holistic palliative assessment could be from any part of a person’s full range of needs (physical, psychological, social, linguistic, cultural, legal, ethical, or spiritual) at any stage of illness.

See Step 2: Assess in the Ontario Palliative Care Network’s Palliative Care Toolkit for guidance.

Denominator including inclusion/exclusion

See Step 1: Identify in the Ontario Palliative Care Network’s Palliative Care Toolkit for guidance.

Preferred tools are cited in the Tools to Support Earlier Identification for Palliative Care, published by the Ontario Palliative Care Network.

Tools example: the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) and the Hospital-Patient One-Year Mortality Risk (HOMR).

Note: Some patients may have more than one hospitalization. References to tools for identifying individuals in need of palliative care and for assessing needs are presented in the comments section.

Adjustment (risk, age/sex standardization)- detailed

None.

Data Source

Local data collection

Data provided to HQO by

Local data collection

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Caveats and Limitations

Limitations to this measure include that the needs change over time; patients may have more than one hospitalization; and needs may have been assessed in other settings as well. The quality of the assessments will not be captured, only completions.

Comments Detailed

This is a QIP priority indicator for 2020/21. QIP Current performance reporting period: most recent 6-month period The data source is EMR (local data collection)