Daren K. Heyland
Failure to Engage Hospitalized Elderly Patients and Their Families in Advance Care Planning
advance care planning improve patientcentered care potentially reduce intensification care end lifeto inquire patients advance care planning activities hospitalization preferences care perspectives patients family members well measure realtime concordance expressed preferences care documentation preferences medical recordprospective studytwelve acute care hospitals canadaelderly patients high risk dying next 6 months family membersresponses inperson administered questionnaire concordance expressed preferences orders care documented medical recordof 513 patients 366 family members approached 278 patients 542 225 family members 615 consented participate mean ages patients family members 800 608 years respectively hospitalization patients 763 thought endoflife eol care 119 preferred lifeprolonging care 479 patients completed advance care plan 733 formally named surrogate decision maker health care patients discussed wishes 303 done family physician 553 member health care team agreement patients expressed preferences eol care documentation medical record 302 family members perspectives similar patientsmany elderly patients high risk dying family members expressed preferences medical treatments eol however communication health care professionals documentation preferences remains inadequate efforts reduce significant medical error omission warranted