Learn about the important role you play in Advance Care Planning (ACP) and get resources to share with your patients and clients.

Advance Care Planning is a way for capable adults to discuss and document their wishes about the health care they want to receive in the event they cannot speak for themselves. Health care professionals have an important role to play in talking to their patients about Advance Care Planning, managing ACP documents and respecting wishes outlined in Advance Care Plans.

ASK to start the conversation

The key is for patients and clients to think about their wishes before a health crisis.

The ASK approach is a tool you can use to start the conversation:

• Ask patients if they have thought about future health care decisions
• Share and store the information with the health care team
• Know your patient’s wishes and where to find ACP resources

ACP is coming to a unit near you

Client Relations and Risk Management will be hosting ACP educational sessions across VCH until March 31, 2013.

At the sessions you’ll get  ACP resources and support  having conversations about ACP with patients, clients and families. Stay tuned for more information from your unit manager or unit educator.

Nurse Implementation Facilitators are also available to work individually with teams and programs to help incorporate ACP into their practice.

Online resources

The primary resource for Advance Care Planning is the Ministry of Health My Voice workbook which provides individuals with instruction on how to complete ACP documents, including a Basic Advance Care Plan, Representation Agreement and an Advance Directive.

Visit the Advance Care Planning pages of  VCHConnect for the My Voice Workbook and educational tools for staff.

Contact us

For more information on the ACP project email us at advancecareplanning@vch.ca.