1277 Implementing sustainable community advance care planning (ACP) clinics: enhancing consumer understanding, engagement, and accessibility

<h3></h3> This presentation demonstrates how the Metro South Health (MSH) Advance Care Planning (ACP) community clinics uniquely contribute to an alignment between a hospital and health service and community engagement in ACP to support meaningful ACP conversations. ACP discussions are frequently initiated in acute care settings however, these environments can present significant barriers to effective and comprehensive planning and engagement in ACP. Consequently, ACP initiated in acute care settings is not always completed or effectively followed through after discharge. To address these challenges, MSH ACP implemented free community ACP clinics in September 2023. These clinics provide a structured, supportive environment where individuals learn about ACP, explore their healthcare options, and receive support from specialist ACP nurses to complete ACP documents. The clinics are designed to be accessible and culturally inclusive, recognizing those from diverse backgrounds may face additional challenges in engaging with ACP. Key objectives of the clinics are to effectively engage with the community, improve understanding of ACP and support the iterative process of ACP initiated in acute care settings, promoting a united approach between treating clinicians and community supports. An evaluation of eligible individuals who attended a clinic between January and June 2024 was undertaken. Attendees were contacted and requested to participate in a survey about their experience. A total of 45 participated in a survey about their experience with the MSH ACP clinics. Key outcome measures of the survey included, demographics of participants, perceived value of the service, the number of ACP documents completed, and barriers to completion. Results demonstrate that the clinics are highly effective in improving ACP understanding for community members, and facilitate ACP conversations being initiated between family and friends. The evaluation has also enabled, implementation of informed improvements into MSH ACP clinic processes. Shifting ACP discussions to a dedicated community setting can improve community engagement, enhance informed decision-making, and ensure continuity of care beyond the acute setting. The initiative seeks to empower individuals to make proactive healthcare decisions, reducing the burden on acute settings and improve patient-centred care outcomes. The clinics provide individuals with a supportive and comfortable environment to learn about ACP, empowering them to have meaningful conversations and document healthcare preferences, leading to improved patient outcomes. ACP in the community also gives clinicians the confidence that ACP initiated in the acute care setting can be effectively followed up after discharge.