iValidate

The iValidate 'Identifying Values, Listening, and Advising High-risk Patients in Acute Care' program was developed by experts in communication, ethics, end-of-life care, and clinical leaders from Barwon Health and Deakin University, with the goal to improve communication and shared decision-making for end of life care.

iValidate

"Although talk about patient-centred care is ubiquitous in modern health care, one of the greatest challenges of turning the rhetoric into reality continues to be routinely engaging patients in decision making"

Barry MJ, N Engl J Med. 2012
Attend a Course

Contact CET@barwonhealth.org.au to register interest.

  • The Core iValidate course is online and run via Zoom
  • Runs over 2 days with eLearning modules + 2 x 6 hours webinars
  • Duration: 14 hours total. 12 hours webinar, 2 hours online content
  • Participants need to complete all components for CPD or college competency recognition

Course Dates

  • Monday 17th & 24th February 2025
  • Tuesday 24th June and 1st July 2025
  • Friday 22nd & 29th August 2025
  • Thursday 13th & 20th November 2025
  • Wednesday 3rd & 10th December
Background

Life-limiting illness can be defined using objective indicators such as the UK Gold Standard Framework (GSF), and the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT). The goal of these indicators is to aid the identification of patients in or approaching the last year of life, to aid the delivery of patient-centred care.

Key Findings

  • At least a third of patients in UHG, or referred to ICU, have a life limiting illness
  • The clinical trajectories of cancer, frailty, or organ failure, reliably identify patients with a high one-year mortality
  • Less than half of patients with a LLI return to independent living
  • Goals of care are identified in only 34% of patients with a LLI while in hospital
Publications
  1. Thurston LM, et al. Defining patient-centred recovery after critical illness. J Crit Care. 2020
  2. Ragg J, et al. Patients with life-limiting illness presenting to the emergency department. Emerg Med Australia. 2019
  3. Orford N. What is an intensive care specialist? Med J Aust 2019
  4. Simpson N, Milnes S, et al. iValidate communication-based clinical intervention. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 2019
  5. Orford NR, et al. Effect of communication skills training on outcomes in critically ill patients. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 2019
  6. Orford N. Grief After Suicide. JAMA. 2018
  7. Milnes S, Corke C, Orford NR, et al. Patient values informing medical treatment. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2017
  8. Orford NR, et al. Prevalence, goals of care and long-term outcomes. Crit Care Resusc 2016
  9. Milnes S, Orford NR, et al. Prospective observational study of prevalence and outcomes. BMJSPC, 2015
  10. Corke C, Milnes S, Orford N, et al. Influence of medical enduring power of attorney. Crit Care Resusc 2009