SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Spiritual Care Collaboration as a Novel Way to Increase ACP Documentation in Latinx Patients

Pdf Summary

This poster describes a quality improvement intervention to increase Advance Care Plan (ACP) documentation among Latinx patients, who initially had lower documentation rates than the general hospital population. The team hypothesized that religion and spirituality might influence receptivity to ACP conversations for some patients.<br /><br />To address this disparity, hospitalists collaborated with Spiritual Care chaplains, who initiated and documented ACP discussions with patients. The intervention was launched in June 2021. During the intervention period, 21 out of 28 patients seen had new ACP notes filed by Spiritual Care.<br /><br />The results showed an increase in ACP documentation among Latinx patients, with a reported 22% improvement, and this increase was sustained even after the intervention ended. Overall ACP documentation also improved, but the gap between Latinx patients and the general patient population narrowed, indicating reduced disparity.<br /><br />The main conclusions were:<br />1. Collaboration with Spiritual Care was a successful new method for initiating and documenting ACP conversations.<br />2. Latinx patients showed increased and sustained ACP documentation.<br />3. The documentation gap between Latinx patients and all patients decreased.<br />4. Spiritual Care staff can be especially helpful in ACP discussions for patients with strong religious beliefs.<br /><br />The authors recommend that hospitalists involve Spiritual Care early when patients seem open to speaking with chaplains, as this may improve ACP engagement and documentation.

Asset Subtitle

Nishita Nigam

Meta Tag

Author List Beth Godfrey, Jamie Kimmel, John Dzundza, Michelle S. Mourad, Molly A. Kantor, Nishita Nigam, Rachel Luke, Shagun Arora

Category Innovations

Concept Spiritual Care

Concept Advance care planning

Concept ACP Documentation

Concept Latinx Patients

Concept Documentation Rate

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Ucsf

Presenting Author Nishita Nigam

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

Advance Care Plan

ACP documentation

Latinx patients

quality improvement

Spiritual Care

chaplains

hospitalists

health disparities

religion and spirituality

patient engagement

Spiritual Care

Advance care planning

ACP Documentation

Latinx Patients

Documentation Rate