Sourcebook : 2.9.1 Case Study - Parkland Health and Hospital System : 2.9.1.2 They Established Measures

A change is an improvement if there is a substantial increase in something important, for example:

• Percent of end-of-life patients who receive palliative care services prior to the last month of life
• Mean length of time from palliative care referral until death for these patients
• Percent of palliative care patients who achieve their pain management goals (self-determined) or
• Percent of patients and families who are very satisfied with their care

The team felt that all standards should be met, not just increased use of palliative care services. The services had to result in improved experiences for patients.

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This online version of the book Improving Care for the End of Life: A Sourcebook for Health Care Managers and Clinicians is provided with permission of Americans for Better Care of the Dying [ www.abcd-caring.org ] and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For further information on quality improvement in end-of-life care visit The Palliative Care Policy Center [ www.medicaring.org ].