D.I.S.C.U.S.S. - Abbreviated Palliative Care Assessment/ V.A.L.U.E. - University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Name:
University of Washington/Harborview Medical Center - Integrating Palliative and Critical Care Program: D.I.S.C.U.S.S. - Abbreviated Palliative Care Assessment/ V.A.L.U.E - A 5-Step Mnemonic to Improve ICU Clinician Communication with Families.

Description:
A two-sided, laminated pocket card for critical care/palliative care physicians, nurses, spiritual care directors, and social workers that provides an overview for palliative care assessment, communication guidelines with families, and palliative care pearls - in general and for pain and symptom management specifically.

Category:
Education Tools - Clinician Education

Source:
University of Washington
Harborview Medical Center
325 9th Ave., Box 359762
Seattle WA 98104
206.731.3356

Contact:
Patsy D. Treece, R.N., M.N.
ptreece@uwashington.edu

How the grantee used this instrument:
On one side of the laminated pocket card the acronym D.I.S.C.U.S.S. is outlined to support critical care team members in assessing the need for palliative care and the patient/family readiness to begin palliative care. The reverse side of the card uses V.A.L.U.E. to remind team members of good communication skills when discussing palliative care with family members, as well as a list of palliative care pearls for pain management and general use.

Keywords:
decision-making, care planning, values, advance directives, care plan, social work, pain management, symptom management, quality of life, life-limiting illness

To use this tool:
Please contact the University of Washington for permission to use this tool.

References:
Developed specifically for this project by the project team.

To view this tool:

D.I.S.C.U.S.S Abbreviated Palliative Care Assessment -2 page PDF
(Viewing PDF files requires downloading and installation of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Posted: July 2006

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Promoting Excellence in End-of-Life Care was a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation dedicated to long-term changes in health care institutions to substantially improve care for dying people and their families.