Building on sand: digital technologies for care coordination and advance care planning

Approaches using digital technologies to support advance care planning (ACP) and care coordination are being used in palliative and end of life care. While providing opportunities to facilitate increases in the completeness, sharing and availability of care plans, the evidence base underpinning their use remains limited. We outline an approach that continues to be developed in England; Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems (EPaCCS). Stages governing their optimal use are outlined alongside unanswered questions with relevance across technology-mediated approaches to ACP. Research has a critical role in determining if technology-mediated approaches to ACP, such as EPaCCS, could be useful tools to support the delivery of care for patients with chronic and progressive illnesses.

Automated summary

Digital technologies support advance care planning and care coordination in palliative and end of life care, but evidence is limited. The Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems (EPaCCS) in England are an ongoing development, and research is needed to determine their usefulness for patients with chronic and progressive illnesses.