Identifying Goals of Care

Amber Comer; Lyle Fettig; Alexia M Torke

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2020.06.002

Identifying Goals of Care

Med Clin North Am. 2020 Sep;104(5):767-775. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2020.06.002.

Authors

Amber Comer¹, Lyle Fettig², Alexia M Torke³

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Human Sciences, Indiana University, 1050 Wishard Boulevard, RG 3034, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
² Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Palliative Care, Indiana University School of Medicine, Eskenazi Health, 640 Eskenazi Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
³ Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Incorporated, 1101 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Goals of care conversations are important but complex for clinicians caring for older adults. Although clinicians tend to focus on specific medical interventions, these conversations are more successful if they begin with gaining a shared understanding of the medical conditions and possible outcomes, followed by discussion of values and goals. Although training in the medical setting is incomplete, there are many published and online resources that can help clinicians gain these valuable skills.

Keywords: Ethics; Geriatrics; Goals of care; Palliative care.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Clinical Competence
Decision Making, Shared*
Humans
Palliative Care* / ethics
Palliative Care* / methods
Palliative Care* / psychology
Patient Care Planning* / ethics
Patient Care Planning* / standards
Physician-Patient Relations

Grants and funding

K24 AG053794/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States