PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AS ADVANCE CARE PLANNING ADVOCATE
- Author:
Chee Weng Siew
;
Andy Gim Hong Sim
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Advance Care Planning;
Primary Care;
Communication;
Decision-making
- From:The Singapore Family Physician
2016;42(3):13-17
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Advance Care Planning (ACP) was introduced as part of
patient care in the acute hospitals in Singapore in 2010,
and has been gaining traction among hospital providers
and their patients. The Agency for Integrated Care
(AIC) hopes to strengthen ACP training and awareness
in the social and community care sectors. Primary care
physicians play an important role to introduce ACP,
provide relevant information based on patients health
status, and offer advice, encouragement and guidance
to enhance understanding, reflection and discussion.
They can help patients and their loved ones identify
issues in coping with chronic diseases or possible
life-threatening conditions. When done well, ACP can
uphold the respect and dignity of patients and allow for
patient-centric care continuation. ACP conversation
often begins by listening and exploring the patients
story. Physicians should be attuned to their patients
fears, worries and concerns, and identify triggers for
opportunistic discussions about ACP with them. With
adequate ACP and communication training, primary
care physicians are probably best placed for timely ACP
initiation.
