The goals of care framework and the perioperative period: A practical approach.

The goals of care (GOC) framework (2014) is an illness phase categorisation system that enables limitations of medical treatment (LOMT) to be documented and communicated within a healthcare system. It incorporates a clinical assessment of illness phase and GOC discussion on aims and LOMT for an episode of care. Together, this results in documentation of a GOC category that guides treatment escalation decisions during episodes of patient deterioration.