Implementing and assessing the acceptability of a portable, readily accessible, and actionable end of life planning tool for patients with advanced serious illness or frailty in southern New Zealand.

The Clinical Order Articulating Scope of Treatment (COAST) form was designed as a single-page medical order documenting and communicating the resuscitation status and scope of appropriate medical treatment for adult patients believed to be in their final year of life. Prior to introducing COAST, each health provider or agency in the Southland region of New Zealand had its own forms and processes; the COAST pilot attempted to consolidate and streamline these varied processes into one actionable medical order that is valid throughout the region. This three-phase initiative involved piloting use of the COAST form in Southland between May 2019 and January 2020.

Integrating palliative surgery and palliative care.

We report a challenging patient journey at a rural New Zealand hospital affiliated with a hospice programme. This case illustrates the complexities and rewards of achieving a valuable and sensible collaboration among various teams to ensure the best possible outcome for surgical patients receiving palliative care.

Introducing and Implementing a Universally Accepted, Readily Accessible, and Actionable End-of-Life Planning Tool for Patients with Advanced Serious Illness or Frailty in Southern New Zealand.

Each health provider/agency in Southland, New Zealand, previously had its own forms and processes to document and communicate the planned scope of treatment; this project attempted to consolidate and streamline these variable processes into one actionable medical order that is valid in all settings. The hypothesis was that the intervention would reduce unnecessary hospitalizations in the final year of life. The Clinical Order Articulating Scope of Treatment (COAST) form was a single-page medical order designed to document and communicate the resuscitation status and scope of medical treatment for adult patients believed to be in the final year of life, as evidenced by a "no" response to the Surprise Question.