Service provider organisation—partner organisation type, palliative care code N[N]

Guide for use:

A formal working partnership involves arrangements between a service provider organisation and other service providers and organisations, aimed at providing integrated and seamless care, so that clients are able to move smoothly between services and service settings.

A formal working partnership is a verbal or written agreement between two or more parties. It specifies the roles and responsibilities of each party, including the expected outcomes of the agreement.

Key elements of a formal working partnership are that it is organised, routine, collaborative, and systematic. It excludes ad hoc arrangements. Examples of formal working partnerships include the existence of: written service agreements; formal liaison; referral and discharge planning processes; formal and routine consultation; protocols; partnership working groups; memoranda of understanding with other providers; and case conferencing.

Where partnerships exist for case conferencing purposes, record all partners involved.

CODE 1 Palliative care services

Includes services whose substantive work is with patients who have a life-limiting illness. These palliative care services may provide services in the community and/or in admitted patient settings (including hospices).

CODE 2 Hospitals

Includes emergency departments. Excludes hospices/designated palliative care units in a hospital, and other palliative care agencies as defined under Code 1. Also excludes hospital-based allied health services and individual medical practitioners.

CODE 7 Medical practices

Includes practices of general practitioners and individual specialist physicians such as specialists in palliative care, oncologists, urologists and neurologists.

CODE 8 Integrated health centres

Includes multipurpose centres, aged care centres and specialist care centres such as cancer centres.

CODE 9 Universities/research centres

Includes universities that may undertake research and development projects.

CODE 99 Other

Includes organisations based in the community such as schools, clubs, workplaces, organisations that provide respite care or pastoral care and 'Meals on wheels'.