Central to the PCOC outcomes program is a framework and protocol for routine clinical assessment and response. There are three key resources that help with this: the Guide to implement, embed and sustain the PCOC program, PCOC’s assessment and response protocol and PCOC’s palliative care clinical manual.
Clinical protocol
These resources:
- Are applicable in any setting of care where palliative care is delivered, although a specific clinical manual is available for long-term care settings, such as residential aged care
- Create a clinical language via validated assessment tools
- Supports consistency in responding to identified needs by recommending actions for each assessment tool
- Help ensure healthcare professionals have access to consistent information to plan and deliver care
Download 'Implementing PCOC: a guide for services (pdf)
This resource provides step-by-step guidance to assist palliative care services to develop a plan for implementing PCOC, or to monitor and evaluate progress and identify areas for improvement. It also includes a readiness assessment.
PCOC's assessment and response protocol
Download PCOC's assessment and response protocol (pdf)
PCOC’s assessment and response protocol provides guidance on how to use PCOC’s tools. The protocol also helps with responding to needs identified in assessments. The differences between anticipatory and responsive care are explained. Assessment and response resources, such as forms and lanyards, are included. Tips on how to embed palliative care assessments and outcomes into routine practice are featured. This includes guidance on how to integrate PCOC into orientation and education procedures within services.
PCOC's palliative care clinical manual
Download the PCOC Palliative Care Clinical Manual (pdf)
PCOC’s palliative care clinical manual is designed for palliative care healthcare professionals. It aims to help embed the use of the PCOC assessment tools and data items into routine clinical practice. Embedding PCOC into routine clinical practice is key. This is because PCOC can help drive improvements and shape models of care. The manual includes: definitions (assessment tools and data items), forms for palliative care assessment, and information on the PCOC benchmarks and outcome measures.
© PCOC UOW 2020. The intellectual property associated with a suite of resources on this website is owned by the Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC), University of Wollongong. PCOC has placed resources in the public domain and is happy for others to use them without charge, modification or development. These resources cannot be modified or developed without the consent of the University.
PCOC is a national palliative care project funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.