We are pleased to share a recent publication from the Centre that reports on the process for developing a bereavement model of care for St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.
What is known about the topic?
Acute hospitals are the most common place to die in Australia, yet there is a lack of understanding of how bereavement care is or should be provided in these environments. The bereavement period is associated with increased use of health services and worse morbidity and mortality, and thus has significant implications for public health. The provision of bereavement care in acute hospitals is often sporadic, often involving untrained staff who may not provide evidence-based care.
What does this paper add?
This paper describes the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based model of bereavement care specific to the needs of an Australian acute hospital.
What are the implications for practitioners?
Developing a consistent approach to bereavement for the acute care sector has the potential to support staff, minimise conflict at the end of life, facilitate recognition of those suffering from difficult bereavement and proactively engage services for these people. It is hoped that such a model of care can find relevance across acute hospitals in Australia, to improve the quality and consistency of bereavement care.
Grant M, Hudson P, Forrest A, Collins A, Israel F. Developing a model of bereavement care in an adult tertiary hospital. Aust Health Rev. 2020 Dec 23. doi: 10.1071/AH19270. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33353586.
