Foundations of Advance Care Planning in Clinical Practice

Advance care planning is a clinical process by which patients, families, and care teams clarify wishes for future care. Done well, it improves alignment between care delivered and care desired. This foundational course explains the process and its components. By the end of this course you will be able to describe the purpose of advance care planning, recognize the major documents involved, identify the structure of effective ACP conversations, and understand the role of the clinician in supporting patient-centered decision making. What you will learn: - The conceptual framework of advance care planning and goals of care - The major documents including living wills, healthcare proxies, and physician orders - The role of POLST and MOLST programs in care transitions - The structure of effective ACP conversations including readiness assessment - The role of values clarification and surrogate decision-maker discussions - Cultural and religious considerations in ACP - Documentation and communication frameworks across care settings The course uses readings, conversation frameworks, case examples, and reflection prompts. Each module ends with applied exercises. This course is written for clinicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other care team members who participate in advance care planning. By the end you will have a structured understanding of ACP as a clinical process and a clearer sense of how to support patients and families in articulating goals of care.