[AVBC 2025] Increasing the Rate of Advance Care Plan Completion among Palliative Medicine Inpatients
Care Continuum
Care Process & Redesign
Appropriate & Value-based Care Conference
National Healthcare Group
3 November 2025
This project aimed to improve the completion rate of new Advance Care Plan (ACP) among Palliative Medicine inpatients from. The project successfully increased the ACP completion rate, demonstrating the effectiveness of the interventions.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 03 November 2025
Tags: Care Continuum, End-Of-Life Care, Palliative Care, Preventive Care, Patient Education, Care Process ＆ Redesign, Value Based Care, Patient Satisfaction
About this Content
Aims
This project aimed to improve the completion rate of new Advance Care Plan (ACP) among Palliative Medicine inpatients from 4.9% to 40%.
Background
The National Guidelines for Palliative Care (2015) stipulates routine ACP documentation in healthcare records. International literature demonstrates that ACP implementation leads to improved clinical outcomes, including better adherence to end-of-life wishes, reduced family distress, and higher satisfaction rates. Local research indicates that most patients do not express care preferences, with one-third of cases showing discrepancies between patient and surrogate end-of-life decisions.
Methods
Through a multidisciplinary approach and Clinical Practice Improvement Programme methodology, the team implemented various interventions, including staff education, documentation templates, and protected discussion time.
Results
The project successfully increased the mean ACP completion rate to 52.0% by February 2024. Balance measures showed no adverse effects on patient/family psychological well-being or staff satisfaction.
Conclusion
The project successfully increased the ACP completion rate, demonstrating the effectiveness of the interventions.
Lessons Learnt
The success of this initiative reminds us that in the midst of modern medicine's complexity, the simple act of listening, understanding, and respecting our patients' choices can transform end-of-life care from a clinical process into a deeply human experience.
Keywords
ACP, Palliative, Patient Satisfaction, Clinical Practice Improvement
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
Platform(s) | Appropriate & Value-based Care Conference |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Allied Health, Medical |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Palliative Medicine |
Project Lead(s) | Ho Si Yin |
Project Member(s) | Ang Shih -Ling |
Connect with this contributor!
Ang Shih Ling - shihling_ang@ttsh.com.sg