Early-identification-assessment-palliative-needs-PC

INDICATOR NAME

Name

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

Alternate Name

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

INDICATOR DESCRIPTION

Description

This indicator measures the proportion of patients with a progressive, lifelimiting illness who were identified to benefit from palliative care who subsequently 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 (April 2019), published by the Ontario Palliative Care Network.

Tool example: Adaptation of the UK Gold Standards Framework Prognostic Indicator Guidance for Ontario. References to tools for identifying individuals in need of palliative care and for assessing needs are presented in the comments section.

Data Source

Local data collection

Data provided to HQO by

Local data collection

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Caveats and Limitations

Limitations of this measure include that the needs change over time, and needs may have been assessed in other settings. Assessment quality 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).