Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care 3rd edition

The National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care 3rd edition 2013. The guidelines foster consistent and high standards in palliative care and encourage continuity of care across settings.

Since there is shared responsibility for palliative care across health care settings, the emphasis is on collaborative partnerships within and between hospitals, community centers, hospices and home health agencies to ensure quality, continuity and access to palliative care. 

There are eight domains of care:

1. Structure and Processes of Care
2. Physical Aspects of Care
3. Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects
4. Social Aspects of Care
5. Spiritual, Religious and Existential Aspects of Care
6. Cultural Aspects of Care
7. Care of the Patient at the End of Life
8. Ethical and Legal Aspects of Care

These areas are delineated and the elements of best practice are described. The guidelines serve as a blueprint to create new programs and guide developing programs.