Implementation of Advance Care Planning in a Regional Network

Abstract

Implementation of Advance Care Planning in a Regional Network Abstract. Since 2017, the ACP concept, known in Germany as Health Care Planning for the Final Phase of Life (GVP) has offered residents of inpatient facilities for elderly care and integration assistance a special consultation service by trained consultants on medical and nursing care options and their care in the final phase of life. In order for the counselling and documentation of wishes and preferences to be followed by good implementation of the individual GVP, a reliable flow of information and coordinated action processes between the players involved in the facilities as well as the external service providers, such as physicians and prehospital emergency medical service staff, are essential. Cross-sectoral coordination processes and regional networking of the players involved can contribute to the development of concrete procedures and uniform processes for implementing GVP in a region. In order to identify the necessary steps for the implementation of GVP and to be able to describe quality criteria for the implementation of GVP in regional networks, four regions in North Rhine-Westphalia were selected and supported as models within the framework of a state project. Initial experiences in the state project point to some overarching factors that contribute significantly to good implementation of GMPs in regional networks.