Lessons learned from New York’s community approach to advance care planning and MOLST

This article reviews the lessons learned from the development and implementation of New York’s community approach to advance care planning (ACP) as a wellness initiative and the key components of the complementary programs: Community Conversations on Compassionate Care (CCCC) and Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST). Shared, informed medical decision-making is a patient-centered process that is critical to ensuring patient preferences for care are honored at the end of life. Providers must be trained, qualified, and comfortable with the discussions needed for effective shared, informed medical decision-making. Development, implementation, outcomes, lessons learned and sustainability of the CCCC and MOLST programs highlight the success of a healthcare and community collaborative initiative focused on improving care at the end of life. Community data support the value of implementing the CCCC and New York’s MOLST throughout the country.