As a healthcare professional, having a conversation about goals of care and life-sustaining treatments with seriously ill patients of all ages and their loved ones can be difficult. Decision Aids, available for adults and pediatrics, are an educational series designed by the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) that explain the complex topics of potentially life-sustaining treatments, using consumer-friendly language with evidence-based information. The Aids were developed with the help and guidance of healthcare professionals, and reflect the latest research on these interventions.
No decision aid replaces the conversation patients should have with their clinicians to make important, clinical decisions. Use of these decision aids carries no liability to its developers or to CCCC.
Recommendations
The Aids are recommended for use by healthcare professionals who treat seriously ill patients in hospitals, palliative care units, skilled nursing facilities, hospices, and clinic settings.
Certified
The 2021 adult Decision Aids have been certified by AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Please visit AMDA's website for more information about the process and criteria used to certify.
What Users Are Saying
"These materials are very well written. They have enough medical content, and it is described in a very user-friendly way for the non-medical person. The design invites the person in, and they want to read them."
"The CCCC materials are more clearly and directly written. They actually talk to the reader, rather than sounding like they come from a public relations office."
"I feel having [these materials] come from outside [my organization] is beneficial as some people feel that we are trying to save money by having them make these decisions."
TOPICS INCLUDE: artificial hydration, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mechanical ventilation (ventilator), and tube feeding (artificial nutrition).
Online Store
Decision Aids are available for purchase in packs of 25 through CCCC's Online Store.
The Aids are recommended for use by healthcare professionals who treat seriously-ill patients in hospitals, palliative care units, skilled nursing facilities, hospices and medical groups. The Aids are intended to supplement conversations between patients and healthcare providers.
Video: Is A Ventilator Right For You?
CCCC has produced a short, consumer-friendly video on ventilator use which can be shared along with the Ventilator Decision Aid. (YouTube)
