Simplifying Advance Care Planning: The Power of Facilitated ACP Services

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is essential to ensuring that individuals’ healthcare preferences are known and honored. However, despite its importance, most Americans do not complete an advance directive before a medical crisis. A study published in Health Affairs found that only one in three adults in the U.S. has documented their care preferences, leaving many families and healthcare providers to make difficult decisions under stressful circumstances. 

Why Is ACP Completion So Challenging? 

Despite widespread recognition of ACP’s benefits, several key barriers prevent individuals from completing the process: 

• Lack of Awareness & Engagement – Many people do not consider ACP until faced with a serious illness, by which point it may be too late to make informed decisions. 

• Complexity & Time Constraints – ACP often involves multiple steps, legal documentation, and difficult conversations that can feel overwhelming for both patients and families. 

• Limited Accessibility – Paper-based directives can be lost, outdated, or unavailable when needed. A study in JAMA found that nearly 70% of advance directives are not accessible during medical emergencies. 

• Healthcare System Barriers – Many providers struggle to integrate ACP into routine care due to time constraints, a lack of training, and the absence of standardized processes. 

The Benefits of Implementing Facilitated ACP Services 

Facilitated ACP services help overcome these barriers by providing structured guidance, ensuring that ACP conversations happen early, are well-documented, and are easily accessible. The advantages of a structured ACP program include: 

More Patient-Centered Care – When individuals have clear ACP documentation, they are more likely to receive care aligned with their values, reducing unwanted or unnecessary interventions. 

Less Stress for Families – ACP helps prevent loved ones from having to make difficult decisions under pressure, easing emotional burdens during crises. 

Improved Healthcare Utilization – Research from The New England Journal of Medicine shows that ACP completion is linked to fewer hospitalizations, lower healthcare costs, and increased hospice utilization, leading to more appropriate and compassionate care. 

Regulatory Compliance & Quality Improvement – ACP services help healthcare organizations meet CMS guidelines for value-based care while improving patient outcomes and satisfaction scores. 

Implementing a Strong ACP Program 

For healthcare organizations, integrating a facilitated ACP program doesn’t have to be complicated. Best practices include: 

1️⃣ Proactive Engagement – Initiate ACP conversations early, before a crisis occurs. 
2️⃣ Guided Facilitation – Use trained ACP specialists to support meaningful, structured discussions. 
3️⃣ Legal & Ethical Compliance – Ensure all documentation meets state and federal regulations. 
4️⃣ Secure Access to ACP Documents – Store and update ACP records in a centralized, easily accessible system. 

How ACP Complete Can Help 

ACP Complete is designed to help healthcare organizations implement and scale facilitated ACP services efficiently. By combining expert guidance, legal compliance, and digital documentation, ACP Complete makes it easier to ensure that patient preferences are documented and accessible when it matters most. 

Take the Next Step Toward Better ACP 

Waiting until a medical emergency to discuss care preferences is too late. By implementing a structured ACP facilitation program, healthcare organizations can improve patient care, reduce stress for families, and ensure regulatory compliance—all while making ACP more accessible and actionable. 

Learn more about how facilitated ACP services can benefit your organization: 📌 Read Here