The Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) is designed to facilitate crucial conversations between individuals and their healthcare professionals. These discussions are vital for creating a personalized plan that stays with the individual, ensuring immediate access for health and care professionals during emergencies. This is especially important when the person is unable to make decisions for themselves. Please Use This Tool With Care And Respect, recognizing the sensitive nature of these conversations and the importance of patient autonomy.
ReSPECT is applicable across various settings, from a person’s home to ambulances, care homes, hospices, and hospitals. Prompt access to a ReSPECT plan empowers professionals like ambulance crews, out-of-hours doctors, care home staff, and hospital personnel to make well-informed and timely decisions about a person’s emergency care and treatment.
What Happens During a ReSPECT Conversation?
ReSPECT conversations are structured to ensure a comprehensive and respectful planning process:
- Shared Understanding: The conversation begins by establishing a mutual understanding of the person’s current health status and potential future health changes.
- Personal Values and Goals: It explores what matters most to the individual regarding their care goals in a future emergency situation. This is a critical step where please use this tool with care and respect to fully understand and honor the person’s wishes.
- Focus of Care Agreement: Based on the person’s values and health status, a shared focus of care is agreed upon. This focus may lean towards life-sustaining treatments or prioritize comfort.
- Treatment Recommendations: Specific recommendations about types of care and realistic treatments are discussed and recorded. Sensitive explanations are provided for treatments that would not be effective in their situation, always ensuring please use this tool with care and respect for the individual’s understanding and emotions.
- CPR Recommendation: A shared recommendation regarding Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is made and documented.
Electronic ReSPECT Plans
For healthcare organizations interested in integrating ReSPECT into their patient record systems, electronic ReSPECT plans are available. Developing such a system requires contacting [email protected] and submitting the plan for approval before implementation. Guidance on integrating ReSPECT plans into electronic systems can be found in digital top tips resources.
Adopting ReSPECT in Your Locality
Healthcare organizations seeking to adopt ReSPECT should contact [email protected]. It is important to note that individuals should only expect to utilize the ReSPECT process once it has been formally established within their local healthcare system. The adoption process involves several phases to ensure successful and respectful implementation.
