1. Screening and identification

Undertaking screening and identification with recognised tools ensures detection of people who have potentially unmet end of life and/or palliative care needs. The screening and identification process also recognises and identifies populations that face barriers in accessing and using services because of geographic location, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, racial and ethnic background, or communication difficulties.

Action

Processes are in place to identify those people who are approaching and reaching the end of their life.

Evidence

Screening and early identification of care needs is important to allow for shared care planning with the person, their family and carers. Early identification of care needs also ensures timely access to appropriate end of life and palliative care services.

Considerations and resources

Use of available tools supports screening and enables early identification of people with end of life and/or palliative care needs. Examples of useful tools include AMBER Care Bundle, Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT^TM) and the “Surprise Question”.

Using virtual care

Referrers should consider the questions and use the tools and information below when providing virtual palliative and end-of-life care.

Is virtual care, or a hybrid approach, more appropriate for assessing the patient for referral to End of Life Palliative Care (EoLPC) services? Has the referrer identified that virtual care is appropriate for this patient based on their individual situation, e.g: is virtual care clinically appropriate for this patient; are they digitally literate or do they have someone to assist; do they (or a family member or carer) have access to a computer, tablet or smartphone with stable internet and data plan.

Who else needs to attend the appointment? Any person who can support the patient can be included in a virtual consultation. If the patient does not have decision-making capacity, is the person responsible attending the appointment? Is a support person needed? Has the patient identified a family member/carer to be included in their care discussions? Has the clinician considered the multidisciplinary advantages of having the GP, family, specialist, other health professionals and other relevant people to attend the appointment?

What happens if the patient, family, or carer deteriorates, or the technology fails while I’m providing care virtually? Each team should have its own protocols for escalating care or managing technology failures during an appointment. Measures could include:

• Confirming the patient’s address and contact number at the start of any consult
• Being able to call an ambulance or other emergency service
• Organising an urgent visit
• Contacting a family member
• Enacting the backup process if the connectivity is poor or the technology fails

More about consumer support

For more virtual care resources, see:

• Virtual care in practice guide
  Information to support healthcare providers to deliver virtual care.
• Virtual care palliative care resources for clinicians and consumers
  Resources supporting health professionals, patients, families and carers to access and use virtual care as part of palliative care.