Document resource
Background Specialist palliative care services have to balance patient need with resource allocation which can be challenging at the referral stage. The RUN-PC tool is an evidence-based triage tool which allows services to allocate resources based on complexity and provide a timeframe based on urgency of need (Russell, Vogrin, Philip, et al. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020;59(1):95-104). Implementation of RUN-PC is considered to enable palliative care services to better characterize their referral population and, in turn, improve transparency around access to care (Russell, Philip, Phillips, et al. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024;67(3):260-268.e2).Methods Pilot service evaluation utilising PDSA (Plan-do-study-act) methodology. We introduced RUN-PC to our community team for all referrals. We ran a series of teaching and an implementation workshop prior to the intervention. A pre-intervention audit of admissions for six weeks was conducted highlighting delays between referral to triage and further delays between triage to visit. Data was collected for 6 weeks for comparison. A staff survey was conducted alongside the analysis to highlight challenges and enablers.Findings RUN-PC was feasible to implement. Staff were positive about the change and we had high engagement. The tool reduced the overall time between referral and community visit and helped to streamline the referral process and improve transparency within the hospice service.Conclusion Triage is important to allocate resources and meet palliative care need. RUN-PC is a useful tool to understand clinical urgency for community patients being referred to hospice services.