Enhancing Palliative Care Referrals for Primary Care Patients with Noncommunicable Diseases

Timely identification of palliative care needs in primary care is pivotal in improving patient outcomes and quality of life for individuals with chronic or life-limiting illnesses. Conversely, delayed recognition of these needs frequently results in missed opportunities for early intervention and comprehensive care planning. This quality improvement (QI) project focused on implementing the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) to enhance early identification and referral to palliative care within a primary care setting. The initiative sought to bridge care gaps by providing structured educational sessions to three medical doctors and five nurse practitioners. Participants received training on the SPICT framework and subsequently incorporated the tool into routine patient assessments. A pre- and post-intervention study design was employed to evaluate the intervention's efficacy. Data collection encompassed retrospective chart reviews to assess changes in referral patterns and provider feedback to evaluate the tool's practicality and usability. The analysis revealed a significant increase in early palliative care referrals and improved provider confidence in recognizing patients with palliative care needs. These findings underscore the value of integrating evidence-based tools like SPICT into routine primary care practice to enhance care delivery and patient outcomes. The project highlights the critical role of provider education in adopting standardized tools, emphasizing the broader implications for system-wide improvements in palliative care referrals.