The Ariadne Serious Illness Care Program is revolutionizing healthcare by placing patient priorities at the heart of serious illness management. Developed by palliative care experts at Ariadne Labs, this system-level care delivery model aims to make conversations about patient goals, values, and preferences a standard practice, not an exception. Our mission is to ensure that every individual facing serious illness receives care that truly aligns with what matters most to them.
The cornerstone of the program is the groundbreaking Serious Illness Conversation Guide. This framework empowers physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other healthcare professionals to engage in meaningful dialogues with patients. These conversations delve into crucial topics, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of patient priorities and wishes, which in turn guides their future care. Clinical trials have demonstrated the program’s effectiveness, leading to more frequent, earlier, and higher-quality serious illness conversations. Furthermore, the program has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression among patients. Research indicates a strong correlation between the program and improved patient and clinician experiences, alongside reductions in overall medical expenses.
Our team brings extensive frontline clinical experience spanning palliative care, hospital medicine, geriatrics, and primary care. Coupled with expertise in organizational change, healthcare disparities, care delivery innovation, and quality measurement and evaluation, we are uniquely positioned to transform the healthcare system. Our core focus is to ensure that healthcare delivery is consistently aligned with the individual needs and values of each patient.
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For Healthcare Professionals
Access the Serious Illness Conversation Guide to enhance your practice and become part of our growing community.
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For Patients and Caregivers
Discover resources designed to help you articulate your healthcare wishes to your loved ones and medical team.
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For Health Systems and Organizations
Find the tools and resources necessary for healthcare systems to foster a supportive environment for individuals facing serious illnesses.
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Addressing the Serious Illness Care Challenge
Navigating serious illness brings a multitude of complex personal and medical decisions, often causing fear, uncertainty, and distress for patients and their families. When individuals engage in open conversations with their healthcare providers about their core values, personal goals, and healthcare wishes, they are significantly more likely to receive care that aligns with their preferences. This patient-centered approach reduces distress and enhances their overall quality of life. Clear, compassionate communication is pivotal in alleviating confusion and anxiety, ensuring that all care decisions reflect what is truly important to each patient.
Despite the recognized importance of these conversations, studies reveal a significant gap. Only about one-third of patients in their final year of life report having these crucial discussions. Furthermore, these conversations often occur late in the illness trajectory, potentially hindering the fulfillment of patients’ most vital wishes. While the vast majority of clinicians acknowledge the importance of discussing goals of care, a staggering 71 percent lack established systems to routinely initiate these essential conversations.
Our Strategic Approach to Serious Illness Care
Recognizing that improving serious illness care requires systemic change, the Ariadne Serious Illness Care Program offers adaptable tools and innovative strategies to transform healthcare delivery. We have developed a groundbreaking care delivery model designed to seamlessly integrate timely, patient-centered serious illness conversations and proactive care planning into routine clinical practice. This comprehensive program extends across all medical specialties and care settings, including ambulatory, inpatient, home-based, and community care environments.
The Ariadne Serious Illness Care Program is structured around three core components:
Scalable Communication Tools: We provide practical, evidence-based communication tools specifically designed for patients, families, and healthcare professionals. These tools facilitate alignment of care with patient priorities and strengthen the crucial relationships between patients and their care teams.
Clinician Training Programs: Our specialized training programs are designed to build clinician confidence and enhance their skills in conducting effective serious illness conversations. We empower healthcare professionals to confidently and competently engage in these vital discussions.
Systemic Improvement Support: We offer dedicated support for healthcare leaders and champions committed to achieving systemic improvements in serious illness conversations and overall care quality within their organizations.
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The Far-Reaching Impact of Our Program
The Ariadne Serious Illness Care Program has achieved significant global reach and impact:
87
Countries are actively represented within our Community of Practice, demonstrating the program’s international relevance and applicability.
32+
Healthcare systems have partnered with us to implement and integrate the Serious Illness Care Program, reflecting its practical value and effectiveness in diverse healthcare settings.
28K+
Healthcare professionals have received training through our programs, expanding the capacity for high-quality serious illness conversations and patient-centered care delivery.
Partner with the Ariadne Serious Illness Care Program
The Serious Illness Care Program actively seeks partnerships with foundations, healthcare systems, and mission-aligned organizations. These collaborations are essential for fostering innovation, rigorously testing our tools, disseminating program resources, co-designing curriculum, and developing advanced educational offerings and system-change initiatives.
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