Clinical training and guidance
HCW partners with Respecting Choices® First Steps® Prime Affinity (RC) to train participating health care organizations to build strong advance care planning systems. More than just training facilitators, RC assists organizations in ensuring that conversations are offered routinely, conducted, documented and entered consistently in the medical record. Participants begin with a small-scale, six-month trial implementation, and use the lessons learned to expand across the organization.
Collaboration in the health care system
By collaborating around this model, clinical sites and communities enjoy greater benefits and avoid duplicating work to improve advance care planning. The Society and RC provide a platform for teams and stakeholders to share lessons and information, address challenges and share successes.
Physician engagement
Physicians are essential to effective advance care planning. Their trusted encouragement normalizes these difficult conversations, and their leadership is required for success in the health care setting. The Society works closely with physicians and provides them tools and continuing medical education to successfully engage their patients in advance care planning.
Common language, documentation and patient materials
The language around advance care planning is often confusing and undefined. HCW’s Glossary is contributing to more standardized vocabulary across Wisconsin. HCW participants use a common advance directive and patient education materials, providing standard messaging on advance care planning.