Use of a Clinically Derived Risk Calculator to Assess Advance Care Planning for Elderly Veterans in the Outpatient Setting

Only a third of Americans have completed an advance directive, however completion of advance directives helps to protect patient autonomy and promotes engagement and discussion of goals of care. Primary care physicians have the ability to longitudinally engage patients in effective conversations about their wishes toward end-of-life care. Electronic health record (EHR) tools can help clinicians to identify high-risk patients appropriate for advance care planning (ACP). Over 60% of deaths are out of hospital deaths.