6: Advance Care Planning Systems – The Miracle Hiding in Plain Sight

“Advance care planning is not enough. It’s critically important that we develop highly reliable systems.”

Dr. Stephanie Anderson

Respecting Choices®

Advance care planning – clarifying your wishes in advance about the kind of care you want to receive – improves outcomes for patients, families and healthcare providers. The data is so conclusive that legislation was passed in the 1990’s to increase the number of Americans having an advance directive. The legislation failed, but it’s a great start. In this conversation with Emily Lauri and Dr. Stephaie Anderson, we explore the problem and possible solutions.

Meet Dr. Stephanie Anderson

Dr. Stephanie Anderson is the executive director of Respecting Choices, a division of C-TAC Innovations. She is responsible for designing and leading strategy and operations including the delivery of this internationally recognized program. She has over 25 years of experience in palliative care, hospice, home care, case management, and emergency medicine. Dr. Anderson earned her doctor of nursing practice degree from the University of Iowa specializing in health systems administration.

Dr. Anderson has served in a variety of leadership roles. In these roles, her palliative care program was awarded Joint Commission Certification and the system received the Circle of Life award from the American Hospital Association. She co-chaired the Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (IPOST) movement, resulting in new legislation and statewide implementation. Dr. Anderson joined Respecting Choices in 2013 as a senior faculty consultant and evolved into the director of consultation and education services prior to her current role. Dr. Anderson currently chairs the National POLST central region leaders group, co-chairs the POLST program assistance committee and a member of the program standards committee. She is vice president of Advance Care Planning – international. Dr. Anderson believes person-centered decision making based on an individual’s goals and values truly transforms care and should be the top priority to delivering exceptional whole-person healthcare.

Person-Centered Decision Making

Respecting Choices’ goal is to design a system of person-centered care that is guided by the best scientific evidence and is aligned with an individual’s goals and values.

This system requires a shared decision-making process that involves respectful interaction among providers, individuals, and families, and keeps the focus of planning on what matters most to each and every person for any healthcare decision.

Episode Credits

Pat Cupples provided original music for this episode. Additional music is from the band Hotels & Highways.

Photo credit: Gundersen Health System