Related Experiment Videos
Using the Liverpool Care Pathway for a dying patient
Mary P McNicholl1, Kathleen Dunne, Angela Garvey
1Altnagelvin Hospitals Trust, Londonderry. mpmcnicholl@alt.n-i.nhs.uk
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|June 13, 2006
Summary
Staff adapted the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) for dying patients, finding some stayed on the pathway for 12 days. This shows LCPs can be extended beyond the average two days if patient needs persist.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- End-of-Life Care Research
- Healthcare Adaptation
Background:
- The Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) is a model for end-of-life care.
- Organisational adaptation of established care pathways is common in healthcare settings.
Observation:
- Staff in a Northern Ireland acute hospital adapted the LCP for their specific organisational context.
- The adaptation focused on the care journey of an individual dying patient.
Findings:
- The patient remained on the adapted LCP for 12 days, exceeding the typical average of two days.
- This case demonstrates that the LCP can be utilized for extended periods when patients meet eligibility criteria.
Implications:
- Findings suggest flexibility in LCP application, potentially improving continuity of care for some patients.
- Organisational adaptation of end-of-life care pathways may enhance patient care delivery.
- Further research could explore the impact of extended LCP use on patient and family outcomes.