Advance care planning is the process of planning for someone's future health care and the care they would (or would not) like to receive in the event of serious illness, when they are unable to communicate their preferences, or at the end of their life.
Three local health networks in south east Melbourne offer Advance Care Planning services. Several online tools are also available.
Advance Care Planning is the process by which individuals discuss their wishes and preferences with regards to their healthcare with their family and health care providers.
Benefits of Advance Care Planning
- A person continues to have a say in their medical care, even when they lose that physical or mental capacity
- People are comforted knowing they are more likely to receive treatment they want, and not receive the treatment they would not want
- Carers and family can make decisions knowing their loved ones choices
- The conversation itself can strengthen relationships between family, carers, and friends.
People often need help to develop an Advance Care Plan that will guide their medical treatment and care.
Victorian Advance Care Planning forms
Advance Care Planning Forms can be found on the Victorian Department of Health's website. Below is a description of forms that are often used in the Advance Care Planning process.
Click
HERE to access the forms for your patients.
Where to store completed Advance Care Planning documents
Health professionals should encourage patients to share copies of Advance Care Planning documents with:
- GP Practice
- Appointed person
- Local Hospital Network Advance Care Planning Service
- Upload to My Health Record
Advance Care Planning in General Practice
Make Advance Care Planning part of routine care
We've created a one page flyer outlining reasons to discuss Advance Care Planning with your patients in general practice.
This one pager covers when, where and how to discuss Advance Care Planning. The flyer also includes information MBS billing information as relevant to ACP.
Recording of SEMPHN & Monash Health ACP Webinar
Learn more about Advance Care Planning by watching a webinar hosted by Jenny Pace, a Shared Decision Making Team Leader at Monash Health.
Increase Advance Care Planning (ACP) Knowledge in General Practice
ACP QI Activity Knowledge and Skills
Advance Care Planning Group Patient Information Sessions
Connect with your local Advance Care Planning services
Advance Care Planning (ACP) services located in Local Hospital Networks's in the SEMPHN region are committed to supporting General Practices with Advance Care Planning.
We encourage practices to link directly with the friendly ACP service teams at Alfred Health, Monash Health and Peninsula Health for expert advice, local information and support.
General practices can also request an information session for practice staff.
Please click on the links below for further information and contact details for your local ACP service.
Useful tools on Advance Care Planning
Services and resources on Advance Care Planning
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