This summer the Duke Outpatient Clinic (DOC) begins a new program to help increase patient engagement in "advance care planning" (ACP), the patient process of speaking with loved ones and the medical team about the care you'd like to receive if unable to speak for yourself. GIM faculty Drs. Lynn Bowlby and Larry Greenblatt are leading this effort along with resident physicians, Drs. Azalea Kim and Jared Lowe.
The initiative is funded by the Duke Institute for Health Innovation (DIHI) and will provide a knowledgeable Patient Navigator to be present in the clinic and will be available for "Care Planning" appointments. During these visits the ACP will be explained and the types of decisions needed will be discussed. The patient will learn about a Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA), work toward identifying one, discuss their wishes with that person, and complete a legal, notarized HCPOA form. Most importantly, the content of the patient discussions and the HCPOA form will be available in MaestroCare, the Duke electronic medical record. In this manner, the entire DukeHealth team will have access, ensuring the patient's wishes can be followed.
"These appointments with the Patient Navigator are just the beginning of an on-going conversation about a patient's wishes regarding health care."
"These appointments with the Patient Navigator are just the beginning of an on-going conversation about a patient's wishes regarding health care," says Jared Lowe, MD, a resident physician at the DOC who is involved in this initiative. "It's important for every patient to think about these issues and designate a HCPOA."
Patients will soon be scheduled for an office visit with the comment "ACP" listed next to their appointment - this indicates an appointment dedicated to the purpose of Care Planning. To begin, the Care Planning appointments will be scheduled with interested residents, but soon the Patient Navigator will conduct these appointments. The pilot program is intended to run through May 2018, but may be extended depending on how well it is received. Care planning appointments at the DOC will begin in July with the Patient Navigator joining the team in August.
Dr. Lowe adds if any clinic providers have thoughts they would like to share or think this is a great resource for referring their own patients, please message Dr. Lowe directly (jared.lowe@duke.edu).