Advanced Care Planning for the Orthopaedic Patient

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Medical Ethics
• Health Policy

Background:

• Advanced care planning (ACP) involves preparing for end-of-life care based on patient values and preferences.
• Formalized through advanced directives, ACP offers significant benefits to patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare systems.
• Despite proven benefits, ACP and advanced directives are notably underutilized in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of advanced care planning for orthopaedic patients.
• To educate orthopaedic surgeons on the concepts and medicolegal aspects of ACP.
• To emphasize optimizing patient care during sentinel health events through proactive planning.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on advanced care planning and its benefits.
• Analysis of the role of orthopaedic surgeons in patient care during critical health events.
• Discussion of the medicolegal considerations pertinent to advanced directives.

Main Results:

• Advanced care planning aligns medical decisions with patient values, improving end-of-life care.
• Advanced directives, a component of ACP, have demonstrated widespread benefits across patient and healthcare systems.
• Underutilization of ACP persists despite its established advantages.

Conclusions:

• Orthopaedic surgeons encounter patients at critical junctures (e.g., hip fractures) necessitating ACP discussions.
• Familiarity with ACP concepts and legalities enables orthopaedic surgeons to optimize patient care during health declines.
• Integrating ACP discussions into orthopaedic practice is crucial for patient-centered care and respecting individual preferences.