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Article
Exploring expanded interdisciplinary roles in goals of care conversations in a national goals of care initiative: A qualitative approach
Palliative Medicine
  • Jessica E. Ma, Durham VA Health System
  • Marie Haverfield, San Jose State University
  • Karl A. Lorenz, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
  • David B. Bekelman, University of Colorado School of Medicine
  • Cati Brown-Johnson, Stanford University School of Medicine
  • Natalie Lo, University of Washington School of Medicine
  • Mary Beth Foglia, University of Washington School of Medicine
  • Jill S. Lowery, VA Medical Center
  • Anne M. Walling, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
  • Karleen F. Giannitrapani, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Publication Date
9-1-2021
Document Type
Article
DOI
10.1177/02692163211020473
Abstract

Background: The United States Veterans Health Administration National Center for Ethics in Health Care implemented the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Initiative throughout the Veterans Health Administration health care system in 2017. This policy encourages goals of care conversations, referring to conversations about patient’s treatment and end-of-life wishes for life-sustaining treatments, among Veterans with serious illnesses. A key component of the initiative is expanding interdisciplinary provider roles in having goals of care conversations. Aim: Use organizational role theory to explore medical center experiences with expanding interdisciplinary roles in the implementation of a goals of care initiative. Design: A qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Setting/participants: Initial participants were recruited using purposive sampling of local medical center champions. Snowball sampling identified additional participants. Participants included thirty-one interdisciplinary providers from 12 geographically diverse initiative pilot and spread medical centers. Results: Five themes were identified. Expanding provider roles in goals of care conversations (1) involves organizational culture change; (2) is influenced by medical center leadership; (3) is supported by provider role readiness; (4) benefits from cross-disciplinary role agreement; and (5) can “overwhelm” providers. Conclusions: Organizational role theory is a helpful framework for exploring interdisciplinary roles in a goals of care initiative. Support and recognition of provider role expansion in goals of care conversations was important for the adoption of a goals of care initiative. Actionable strategies, including multi-level leadership support and the use of interdisciplinary champions, facilitate role change and have potential to strengthen uptake of a goals of care initiative.

Funding Number
CIN 13-410
Funding Sponsor
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Keywords
  • implementation science,
  • patient care planning (goals of care),
  • qualitative research,
  • Role,
  • veterans
Citation Information
Jessica E. Ma, Marie Haverfield, Karl A. Lorenz, David B. Bekelman, et al.. "Exploring expanded interdisciplinary roles in goals of care conversations in a national goals of care initiative: A qualitative approach" Palliative Medicine Vol. 35 Iss. 8 (2021) p. 1542 - 1552
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/marie-haverfield/66/