Palliative Care

Does Your Patient Need a Palliative Approach ?

If your patient suffers from cancer, organ failure, a neurological condition, frailty or dementia, ask yourself the question:

“Would I be surprised if this patient were to die in the next 6-12 months?” 

If the answer is “No”, consider a palliative approach. Download the Prognostic Indicator Guidance Paper. 

Resources

• Community Coordinated Palliative Care Multidisciplinary Case Conference Guide

• Guidelines for a Palliative Approach for Aged Care in the Community Setting - Best practice guidelines for the Australian context, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2011 (available for download from DoHA website) ^{Feb 2011}

• Supporting Booklet for older people receiving care, their families and friends ^{Feb 2011}

• General Practice Coordinated Palliative Care Multidisciplinary Case Conference Guide  (including MBS Guide)

• Palliative Care Service Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Meeting Manual  

• Multidisciplinary Team Meeting Client and Family/Carer Information Sheet

Clinical Information

• Caresearch (Palliative Care Knowledge Network - funded by the Australian Government to provide health professionals with the most up-to-date information and resources) - Clinical Practice Section

• Department of Health and Human Services - Clinical Tools for initial assessment of a patient, and to monitor changes and responses to symptom management.

• Gold Standards Framework - Anticipatory Prescribing for Crisis Management in Primary Palliative Care - 'Just in Case' Boxes

• Medical Journal of Australia - Clinical practice guidelines for communicating prognosis and end-of-life issues with adults in the advanced stages of a life-limiting illness, and their caregivers (2007)

• Opioid Converter -Eastern Metropolitan Palliative Care Consortium (Victoria) 

• Palliative Medicine Handbook on-line edition by Ian Beck (UK publication) - symptom management, prescribing advice, opoid conversion online calculator.

• Until the Chemist Opens - Palliation from the Doctors Bag 

• Palliative Care GP Management Plan template at the Monash Division ^New

Education

• Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement - Victorian based, but training programs also offered in Tasmania 

• Caresearch (Palliative Care Knowledge Network- funded by the Australian Government to provide health professionals with the most up-to-date information and resources) - Education section, information on a wide range of training options relative to palliative care.

• Palliative Care Australia - Training Resources for the Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care.

• Palliative Care Victoria - series of Podcasts on various aspects of palliative care

• Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) - learn from specialist staff to enhance skills, knowledge and experience in the palliative approach (RAGP & RRMEO points).

Services and Referral

• Caresearch (Palliative Care Knowledge Network- funded by the Australian Government to provide health professionals with the most up-to-date information and resources) - GP Hub

• Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre (Community Based Support South Inc.) - for respite services, and information on support services

• Department of Health and Human Services, Palliative Care for Health Professionals - information on referral to the Palliative Care Service, assessment, adult formulary, care management guidelines, clinical tools, syringe drivers and education.

  • Referral Form - Hard Copy

  • Referral Form - Clinical Templates  MD  BP  

• Department of Health and Human Services Palliative Care Triage Model.

• Hospice Care Association of Southern Tasmania - provides volunteer support to help people living with life limiting illness, and their carers and families, in Southern Tasmania

Patients and Families

• New Advanced Care Directive (ACD) form is being introduced progressively throughout Tasmania. The ACD will come to replace the “Statement of Wishes” form

• Caresearch (Palliative Care Knowledge Network) - Patients and Families section

• Carer Support - Carers Australia (Tasmania)

• Department of Health and Human Services (Tasmanian Government) - series of fact sheets for patients, carers and families in PDF format

• Guardianship and Administration Board - enduring guardianship (appointing a person to make personal or medical decisions on your behalf should you lose the ability to do so) - information sheet and form to appoint enduring guardian(s).

• Palliative Care Australia - resources for consumers and professionals to print, order form for free resources.

• Walking with Grief Support group for people bereaved through illness (Hospice South, Tasmania)

Additional Information

• Four Corners Program "a Good Death" screened Feb 2010

• MBS Items for Palliative Care including management plans, case conferencing, advance care planning and work with aged care facilities May 2010

• Needs Assessment Tool Template for Medical Director