ACP is an ongoing process in which individuals discuss their goals, values, beliefs and treatment preferences with their families and HCPs to inform their current and future health care choices. As more Americans are faced with advanced illness and aging with multiple chronic health conditions, ACP can guide individuals with decision-making capacity on future health care choices should they become unable to participate directly in their own care. ACP can help ensure that patients receive care that is consistent with their wishes and provide guidance to families to reduce their decision-making burden in following these wishes.

This webcast will discuss the steps involved in ACP and the important role of the HCP in initiating these discussions as part of routine patient care.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to

• Discuss the importance of ACP at any stage of life, particularly for the general elderly population
• Describe ways to initiate ACP conversations with patients, families and providers and identify potential barriers to initiating these conversations
• Explain the steps involved in developing a comprehensive ACP and why this should be part of routine patient care
• Explain the importance of living wills and other advance directives in ensuring patients receive the medical care they want, avoid unnecessary suffering and relieve caregivers of decision-making burdens during moments of crisis or grief

Presenter
Karen J. Stanley, RN-BC, MSN, AOCN, FAAN
Nursing Consultant, Pain and Palliative Care
Wilmington, Delaware

About the Presenter
Karen J. Stanley is a nursing consultant specializing in the clinical and administrative aspects of cancer care, pain management and palliative care. She is nationally and internationally known for her leadership and expertise in oncology and end-of-life issues and has lectured on clinical, psychosocial and ethical issues pertaining to the care of the oncology patient across the illness continuum. She is past president of the Oncology Nursing Society and has been honored by the American Cancer Society (ACS) as a Fellow for Graduate Study and for contributions to the local ACS unit; by the Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative for Outstanding Contribution to the Relief of Cancer Pain; and by the Kaiser Permanente Service Excellence Program, Spotlight on Leadership, Award for Pain Management in the Hospice Population. Prior to retirement, she served as Director of Pain and Palliative Care Services, Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Connecticut.

Disclosures of Relevant Financial Relationships
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial SupportSM, OptumHealth Education requires all those involved in the development of activity content to disclose their relevant financial relationships. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if such person (or their spouse/partner) has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the activity content over which the individual has control. OptumHealth Education ensures that the content is independent of commercial bias.

Faculty Disclosure
Karen J. Stanley, RN-BC, MSN, AOCN, FAAN, has indicated that she has no relevant financial relationships.

Activity Planners
Sarah Chart, RN
Senior Director
OptumHealth Education

Rebecca Gleason, RN
Activity Manager
OptumHealth Education

V. Silverstein, MD
Eagle Creek Medical Communications
Durham, North Carolina

Activity Planner Disclosures
Ms. Chart and Ms. Gleason reported that they are employees of and own stock in UnitedHealth Group.
Dr. Silverstein reported that she has no relevant financial relationships.

Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in or receiving credit for this activity.
For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.

Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the activity, which includes the following:

• Completing the entire activity
• Completing the Pre- and Post-activity Assessments, Activity Evaluation, and Application for Certificate of Credit forms

You must be logged into your account to participate in this activity. Get started by clicking “Begin” and viewing the “CE Info”; then follow the prompts at the bottom of the screen. At the end of the activity, you will be able to view, save or print your certificate of participation. The Area of Practice you indicated in your profile corresponds with your certificate type. A complete listing of all of your activities can be found under “My Account”, “My Activities.”

Method for Calculating CE Credit
CE credit was calculated by the complexity of content.

Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, OptumHealth Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the health care team.

Credit Designation Statements
Physicians
OptumHealth Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PAs
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Nurses
The participant will be awarded up to 1.00 contact hour(s) of credit for attendance and completion of supplemental materials.

Nurse Practitioners
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.

Case Managers
The Commission for Case Manager Certification has approved this program for a maximum of 1.00 clock hour(s) for Certified Case Managers (CCM).

Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be provided to learners upon completion of activity requirements, enabling participants to register with licensing boards or associations that have not been pre-approved for credits. To apply for credit types not listed above, participants should use the procedure established by the specific organization with which they wish to obtain credit.

Provided By
This activity is provided by OptumHealth Education.

Commercial Support
This activity is supported by OptumCare.

Hardware/Software Requirements
To view this activity you will need Internet Explorer 7.0+ or Firefox 3.0+ with Windows Media Player 9+, RealPlayer 12+ or Adobe Flash Player 9+. Be sure to disable any pop-up blocking software prior to beginning this activity.