An important starting point for any quality improvement project is to understand your current state as well as current work flow processes related to Advance Care Planning / Goals of Care Designations (ACP/GCD).
Select 1-3 measurable indicators to begin understanding your current state with respect to ACP/GCD practices in your setting. Types of indicators to consider may focus on workplace processes, healthcare provider experiences or patient experiences. Below are some examples of these types of indicators:
It is best to keep your measures simple and tailored to your care setting. Think about what will motivate and make a difference to your team. When choosing indicators, use ACP/GCD measures/data currently available to you. Simple is best.
AHS’s Tableau has zone and some site specific data related to ACP/GCD measures such as ACP Tracking Record usage.
How to Access ACP GCD Data
Zone Data or Site Data (Calgary and Edmonton Zones only)
AHS Employees
Visit https://tableau.ahs.ca and search GCD
Non-AHS Employees
The AHS Tableau Server is available using the Health Analytics Portal (HAP). Visit https://extranet.ahsnet.ca/hap to find out more on how external users can register and get access.
From your measures, you can narrow down opportunities for improvement and define a specific goal. State your opportunity as specifically as possible. For example:
“In the last 2 weeks, 30 per cent of all healthcare professionals on our unit reported role confusion as a barrier to performing ACP GCD activities.”
Convert this to a stated goal that includes intended measurable results and intended dates. For example:
“By the end of _____ less than 10 per cent of all healthcare professionals on our unit will report role confusion as a barrier to performing ACP GCD activities.”