The PECIL lab has been working closely with healthcare providers, students, and researchers to design palliative clinical and educational research. This has included research to design and implement clinical training in palliative care, grow capacity and knowledge of pediatric palliative care, and identifying the key modifiable factors that contribute to high-reach palliative care and improved end-of-life outcomes. The lab identified key components and strategies for implementation of palliative care education and in promoting timely outpatient palliative care. The lab aims to turn those lessons learned into actionable education and training.
The Promoting Palliative Care for People with Heart Failure: The P3HF Pilot Study supported the creation of training designed as an educational intervention to educate providers on making appropriate referrals to Palliative Care, facilitated by the use of a clinical decision support (CDS) tool. The focus is on equipping and supporting healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify suitable patients for palliative care and initiate referrals effectively.
Key components of the provider training include:
- Understanding the Rationale for Appropriate Referrals: Educating providers on the critical importance and benefits of early palliative care referral, particularly for hospitalized patients with heart failure, to ensure timely and appropriate interventions.
- CDS Tool Proficiency and EHR Integration: Providing providers with a comprehensive overview of the special built CDS tool, demonstrating its functionality, and explaining its seamless integration into the electronic health record system to support referral decisions.
- Effective Interpretation of CDS Outputs: Training providers on how to accurately interpret CDS alerts and predictive information, enabling them to make informed and appropriate referral judgments on how and when to refer to palliative care.
- Implementing Recommended Referral Actions: Guiding providers through the recommended actions, specific referral pathways, and documentation expectations for initiating appropriate palliative care referrals based on CDS recommendations.