Advance Care Plans across the health system in rural Victoria (IF17186)

Advance care planning (ACP) enhances the quality of end-of-life care. However, in rural Victoria the uptake ACP is low and the communication of Advance Care Plans between primary care services and regional hospitals is unknown. This results in unnecessary, expensive and often distressing hospitalisations and consumers and their families have little choice and control over medical treatment and end-of-life decisions. The aim of this project is to identify and address the barriers and enablers to the uptake and communication of Advance Care Plans across the health system for consumers aged 75 years and over. Tailored interventions will be implemented in a range of primary care settings and communication strategy will be implemented so the Plans are known to Bendigo Health. By focusing on the primary care general practice ‘75 year-old plus’ health assessment and building on existing communication between GPs and Bendigo Health, the project outcomes will be sustained and progress will be routinely monitored.

This application was submitted by the fundholder, Bendigo Health, and has since been successful. A Service Level Agreement between Monash and Bendigo Health has just been prepared by Bendigo Health for our consideration. This will be submitted to the OGC once the Pure approval has been received.