Next Steps ACP
Disease Specific Advance Care Planning Course
The Respecting Choices Disease Specific Advance Care Planning Course, or Next Steps ACP, is designed to assist in effective implementation of ACP intervention for patients with life-limiting, chronic, progressive illness. Next Steps ACP is part of a comprehensive program from Respecting Choices that is delivered to an organization over two to three years and includes consultation, the Disease Specific Advance Care Planning Course, and patient education and documentation materials.
The success of this program is dependent on creating a variety of systems, designing an effective pilot project, and selecting appropriate leadership. In Next Steps ACP, patients are guided by a Next Steps certified facilitator to understand the progression of their illness and possible related healthcare decisions. These decisions may include specific life-sustaining treatments with associated benefits, burdens, and alternatives. The Next Steps facilitator (usually a nurse, social worker, or chaplain with experience in disease management) helps patients reassess their goals for living well and possible changes in preferences for life-sustaining treatment. In this stage of planning, patients are assisted with completing a more specific written plan.
The Statement of Treatment Preference form, developed by Respecting Choices, is a decision-making tool that provides guidance to chosen healthcare agents and providers if patients suffer complications from their illness and/or a trial of treatment results in an outcome the patient has identified as unacceptable.
