'Many health care professionals, families, carers and volunteers are involved in providing care to people who need end of life and palliative care.' (NSW Ministry of Health, 2019)[1]
Equitable access to healthcare including end of life and palliative care is fundamental to health and human dignity and is a basic human right.
Care providers across all settings can play a key role to improve outcomes and experiences for people approaching the end of life, their families and carers ( NSW Ministry of Health, 2012)[2]. To do this health professionals need to be engaged and supported to undertake continuing professional development, access to appropriate education, development opportunities and to have appropriate supervision (Palliative Care Australia, 2018)[3].
The Agency for Clinical Innovation commissioned CareSearch (Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University) to identify local, national and international tools or resources that can potentially be used to implement each of the ten (10) Essential Components of Care within the Blueprint.
To be included, tools and resources were required to be in English, be applicable to the Australian context and be supported by evidence (such as published validation studies, clinical guidelines representing expert consensus, or advice from expert clinicians who were consulted).
The set of tools and resources provided is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is any one tool specifically recommended.
Management of Subcutaneous Infusions in Palliative Care
Australian guidelines informing clinician practice, policy development and procedures and education in subcutaneous infusion device management.
The Centre for Palliative Care is part of St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and is a Collaborative Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia and has roles in the development and implementation of training and education programs for health professionals from a variety of disciplines, while undertaking cutting-edge research to set benchmarks and improve practices in palliative care
Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education
The Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education (CPCRE) was established by Queensland Health in 2001 to enhance palliative care services in Queensland through education and research
Competency Standards for specialist palliative care nursing practice
Queensland University of Technology developed competency standards for specialist palliative care nursing practice.
End of Life Palliative Education Resource Centre (EPERC Fast Facts)
Fast Facts are designed to be easily accessible and clinically relevant monographs on palliative care topics. They are intended to be quick teaching tools for bedside rounds, as well as self-study material for health care professional trainees and clinicians who work with patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Candidate - Clinical Competencies (2011)
Provide guidance to Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Candidates and their services about how clinical competence in palliative care may be identified and assessed in the workplace. Builds on the 2004 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Nurse Practitioner.
Policies and Tools for Hospital Palliative Care Programs (US)
Website of the American Centre to Advance Palliative Care - advocacy group providing clinical training materials and community information resources.
Registration or payment for information
Geriatric Fast Facts are accessible, concise, and clinically actionable 1-2 page reports on Geriatric topics applicable across medical specialties. Fast Facts are interdisciplinary, spanning the progression of medical education.
Quality Palliative Care in Long-Term Care: Self-Assessment Checklist
The checklist was developed to assess whether key structural, process, and outcome components are present in a given long-term care facility. This checklist can be used in conjunction with the Model for Quality Palliative Care in Long-Term Care to assist agencies to perform self-audits to monitor progress toward best practice in providing quality palliative care in long-term care facilities.
Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults
A list of potentially inappropriate medications in terms of their use within elderly patient populations.
Cancer pain management in adults
Cancer Council Australia guidelines for health professionals working with cancer patients. Intended to supplement (not replace) clinical judgment and provide short, point-of-care recommendations for screening, assessment and management of cancer related pain.
Australian decision support guidelines for clinicians working with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Motor neurone disease in aged care
Jo Fowler covers: what is motor neurone disease? The types, incidence, prevalence of MND, along with common signs, symptoms and management.
Jo Fowler Retired MND NSW Regional Advisor – Central Coast, MND Association NSW
Practical caring involves undertaking a coordinated assessment as part of end of life care.
Dawn Hooper Clinical Nurse Consultant, Palliative Care, Northern Sydney Local Health District