Documentation of Advance Directives and Code Status in Electronic Medical Records to Honor Goals of Care

Abstract

Advance care planning is a process that supports conversations about the values that matter most to patients and their family members. The documentation of advance directives and code status in a patient’s electronic health record (EHR) is a critical step to ensure treatment preferences are honored in the medical care received. The current approach to advanced care planning documentation in electronic medical records often remains disparate within and across EHR systems. Without a standardized format for documentation or centralized location for documentation, advance directives and even code status content are often difficult to access within electronic medical records. This case report launched our palliative care team into partnership with the Information Technology team for implementation of a centralized, standardized, longitudinal, functional documentation of advance care planning and code status in the electronic medical record system.