(Updated June 9, 2020 with Long-Term Care Resources) Conversations between patients and clinicians about what matters most lead to higher quality care and improved quality of life for patients and those who care for them. The COVID-19 pandemic makes communication both more difficult and more important than ever, particularly for people who are at highest risk of becoming very sick.
Ariadne Labs’ Serious Illness Care Program developed a COVID-19 Response Toolkit to help patients have these important conversations with people they trust within their support networks. Additionally, the Toolkit includes resources for health systems and clinicians to address the communications needs of patients in the community and those in the hospital. Learn more about our rapid design process in our publication in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
For more information on supporting effective patient-provider communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, read our publication on the Health Affairs Blog.
The toolkit includes resources for multiple settings, use the links below to jump to the relevant tools:
Patient Resources
Being Prepared in the Time of COVID-19
With generous support from the Cambia Health Foundation, Ariadne Labs and The Conversation Project have developed a patient-facing guide on Being Prepared in the Time of COVID-19. This tool can help people take action and be prepared for the pandemic.
NEW: We’re partnered with Cake to develop an easy-to-complete, online version of this guide. Simply visit the page, fill out the form, and save a PDF version of your responses to share with those close to you.
Inpatient Resources
COVID-19 Conversation Guide for Inpatient Care
This guide will help clinicians speak with patients in inpatient settings who are hospitalized with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 about their priorities for their care.
Review the simulated demonstration video below:
Outpatient Resources
COVID-19 Conversation Guide for Outpatient Care
The guide will help clinicians engage in compassionate conversations with high-risk patients about how they can best protect themselves and help them understand what matters most to each patient in the context of COVID-19.
Review the simulated demonstration video below:
Telehealth Communication Tips
Due to the circumstances, clinicians and patients are utilizing telecommunication tools that can may challenge their normal practices. These tips can support clinicians having serious illness conversations virtually.
Recommendation Aid
This aid provides a framework to create holistic recommendations after a conversation with a patient who has underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe complications of COVID-19, should they contract it.
Care Planning Resources
This customizable resource guide will help clinicians connect patients with needed support services.
COVID-19 Letter to Patients
This outreach letter is meant to encourage patients in the community to think about how they would want to be cared for if they became seriously ill with COVID-19.
Long-Term Care Resources
COVID-19 Conversation Guide for Long-Term Care
This communication tool assists health professionals in having conversations about values and care preferences with patients who reside in long-term care or other skilled nursing facilities or their caregivers. These conversations can help ensure the highest quality care.
Review the simulated demonstration video below:
Translations
The COVID-19 Conversation Guide for Outpatient Care, the COVID-19 Conversation Guide for Inpatient Care and the COVID-19 Letter to Patients are also available in French (CA), Spanish, Portuguese (BR), Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian-Creole, and Vietnamese. Download below:
French (CA) Translations
Spanish Translations
Portuguese (BR) Translations
Cape Verdean Creole Translations
Haitian-Creole Translations
Vietnamese Translations
Crisis Resources
COVID-19 Conversation Guide for Crisis Standards
This communication tool offers language to assist clinicians in having conversations with patients who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 if the number of patients who need critical care exceed available resources, or Crisis Standards of Care. If such conditions occur, some patients will not be eligible to receive intensive care with mechanical ventilation or other life-sustaining interventions. We designed this tool with the hope that it will never have to be used.
Webinar Recordings
Overview of the Serious Illness Care Program’s COVID-19 Response Toolkit
Download the overview slides and view the webinar below:
We encourage adaptation of the guides to local context. For editable versions of these tools, please inquire at seriousillnesscare@ariadnelabs.org.