1. National Consensus Project:
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, 4th Edition
Overview
September 2017

2. National Consensus Project: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, 4th Edition
Project Scope: Develop and disseminate national practice guidelines to improve access to quality palliative care for all people with serious illness, regardless of setting, diagnosis, prognosis, or age.
Funded by: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (two year grant)
Implemented by: The National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care
NCP Steering Committee and Writing Workgroup: Includes representatives from nine member organizations of the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care (AAHPM, APC, CAPC, HCCN, HPNA, NHPCO, NPCRC, PAHPM, SWPHN) and other national organizations, and subject matter experts
Steering Committee Co-Chairs: Martha Twaddle, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, and Betty Ferrell, PhD, MA, FAAN, FPCN
Writing Workgroup Co-Chairs: Tracy A. Schroepfer, PhD, and Stacie Sinclair, MPP
NCP Writer/Editor: Kathy Brandt, MS
The goal of the National Consensus Project (NCP) Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, 4th edition project is to improve access to quality palliative care for all people with serious illness, regardless of setting, diagnosis, prognosis, or age. (Note: project scope document is linked)
To support health professionals across the continuum to achieve this goal, the NCP aims to formalize and delineate evidence-based processes and practices for the provision of safe and reliable high-quality palliative care for adults, children, and families with serious illness in all care settings.
For the purpose of this project, serious illness is defined as a health condition that carries a high risk of mortality and either negatively impacts a person’s daily function or quality of life or excessively strains their caregiver.
Building on the success of the NCP Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Care, 3rd edition (2013), this two-year project involves national stakeholder organizations, including representatives from a broad range of care settings, accrediting bodies, payers, and community services organizations.
Previous versions of the NCP Guidelines were developed to be applicable to specialist level palliative care within hospital and hospice settings, however the new NCP Guidelines will be broadened to encompass palliative care delivery by all clinicians caring for the seriously ill in all care settings.
The project is funded by The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and is being implemented by dedicated staff from the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care.
The project is also fortunate to have an expert steering committee and writing workgroup that includes members from the nine coalition organizations, other national organizations and subject matter experts (note: rosters are linked)
Acronyms/Organizations:
AAHPM: American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
APC: Association of Professional Chaplains
CAPC: Center to Advance Palliative Care
HCCN: Healthcare Chaplaincy Network
HPNA: Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association
NHPCO: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
NPCRC: National Palliative Care Research Center
PAHPM: Physician Assistants in Hospice and Palliative Medicine
SWHPMN Social Worker Hospice and Palliative Care Network

3. National Consensus Project Leadership Organizations
These are the national organizations who are providing representatives on the NCP Steering Committee and Writing Workgroup

4. Key Project Components & Timeline
Development:
Strategic Directions Stakeholder Summit held June 2017 – see Summit Report
Writing, review and revisions, July 2017 – Mar 2018
Endorsement:
Approval and endorsements from national stakeholder organizations, May 2018
Publication:
Final review and design, June 2018
Publication, July 1, 2018
Dissemination:
Dissemination via national conferences, webinars and communications, Jan – Dec
Key project components and timeline include:
The NCP Stakeholder Strategic Directions Summit held for June 29/30 – attended by 58 representatives from 43 national/regional organizations, that covered a broad range of care settings, provider associations, accrediting bodies, payers, and community services organizations. (Note: Summit Report linked)
Steering Committee will guide the writing and approval process based on recommendations from the Summit.
Writing workgroup will draft guidelines, review and revise to finalize for approval and circulation through March Literature review and evidence grading will also be done.
Conduct Guideline review and gain stakeholder endorsement: Outreach to key constituencies (both clinical and service providers) to secure organizational endorsement, Apr- May 2018
Publication date set for July 1, 2018
Guideline dissemination: Broad distribution and communications activities planned with key national organizations to raise awareness and educate constituents - and to leverage key opportunities to ensure inclusive follow-up engagement activities involve diverse sectors, care settings, and disciplines.

5. For more information about the National Consensus Project: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, 4th Edition: Visit Contact Gwynn Sullivan, NCP Project Director