Complete
Summary
Consumers tell us that they want to be cared for and die at home. Anticipatory medicines are one way this can happen and are an important part of community-based palliative care.
Common symptoms in the last days of life - such as pain, nausea, breathlessness and agitation - are more easily managed with anticipatory medicines. They may also prevent ambulance attendance and/or admission to hospital.
We worked with expert clinicians and consumers to develop clinical guidance on the use of anticipatory medicines.
Outcome
This guidance is for all healthcare professionals in hospital and community settings who provide palliative or end of life care to support Victorian patients, who are:
- receiving palliative care from their healthcare provider
- have expressed a preference to be cared for and/or die at home.
The guidance supports the priorities in the Victoria's end of life and palliative care framework.
Targets
- Improved access to anticipatory medicines for palliative care patients
- 95% or more of patients identified as dying at home will have anticipatory medicines needs identified and actioned as per Victoria's guideline by October 2019.
Measures
While this project is completed, it is too early to measure its outcomes.
- % of patients with anticipatory medicines who died at home
- % of patients with anticipatory medicines who died at home with breakthrough symptoms managed
- Number of patients or carers who had preparedness assessment completed
- Number of patients or carers who completed training or education
- Number of patients with breakthrough symptoms that have anticipatory medicines prescribed
- Number of patients with breakthrough symptoms that have anticipatory medicines dispensed
- 100 per cent of patients receiving community palliative care services have access to anticipatory medicines.