Excellent Palliative symptom assessment and ongoing management are based on the acuity, complexity and variability of the person’s condition. The use of standardized and evidence based tools promote this excellence in practice.

Please join the NSMHPCN Nurse Consultants and Education Facilitators in a comprehensive review of 8 Cancer Care Ontario Symptom Management Algorithms. This review will assist you to identify and manage palliative symptoms, alleviate suffering and improve quality of life for your palliative patients/clients. These evidence-based guidelines are applicable to all palliative symptom assessment and management in patients/clients with or without a cancer diagnosis and can be used in all palliative care settings.

The SQ, or Surprise Question, was developed more than a decade ago and has been suggested as a simple test to identify patients who might benefit from a palliative approach to care.  It has traditionally involved a clinician reflecting on the question, “Would I be surprised if this patient died in the next 12 months?”  Please join Julie and Nancy as they help us unfold the results when considering if death in the coming year is possible.

The Palliative Performance Scale was developed by Victoria Hospice and used to measure performance status in palliative care. It measures five key areas: ambulation, ability to do activities, self-care, food/fluid intake, and level of consciousness. The scale uses 10 % decrements from 100% ( healthy ) to 0% ( death). Please join Sue and Charlene as they discuss the importance and use of this tool in the care of palliative patients.

The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (revised version) is designed to assist in the assessment of: pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, appetite, well being and shortness of breath. The ESAS scores provide clinicians with a patient profile of symptom severity over time. Please join Cathy and Inge for an informative session on why this tool is so important to have and use in your palliative care tool kit.

The Clinical Frailty Scale is a judgement based frailty tool that evaluates specific domains including comorbidity, function and cognition to generate a frailty score from 1 (very fit) to 9 (terminally ill). This tool was originally designed as a geriatric assessment tool and has significant relevance in palliative care.  Please join Charlene and Sue as they guide you through the use of this tool and why it is so relevant in the care of elderly palliative patients.