HTA Details
Health Care for People Approaching End of Life
- Publication date
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2014-December-01
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Palliative Care
- Recommendation
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Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations:
- All patients approaching the end of life have access to specialized interprofessional, team-based, integrated care across multiple venues.
- Patient care planning, including advance care planning and goals of care, be discussed with patients and their informal caregivers early, periodically, and as circumstances change.
- Ministry Response
-
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care endorses these recommendations.
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To read the full OHTAC Recommendation Report for this topic, contact our Health Innovation team using the contact form to request a digital copy.
End of life means a person has an illness that is getting worse, cannot be cured, and is likely to cause his or her death. On average, 87,000 adults died in Ontario each year from 2007 to 2009. Of those, 40% died at home or in a long-term care facility.
People at end of life need many health care services to help manage symptoms, cope with impending death and meet their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. How these services are delivered can affect people’s comfort and quality of life, and how they feel about their end-of-life care.
OHTAC analyzed and prepared evidence-based analyses for several end-of-life care topics:
What factors affect the place of death
Patient-care planning discussions
How to help informal caregivers
Resuscitating patients
Patient, informal caregiver, and health care provider education
Team-based models of care
Supporting Documents
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Health Care for People Approaching the End of Life: An Evidentiary Framework
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Patients With Terminal Illness: An Evidence-Based Analysis
The Determinants of Place of Death: An Evidence-Based Analysis
Educational Intervention in End-of-Life Care: An Evidence-Based Analysis
End-of-Life Care Interventions: An Economic Analysis
Patient Care Planning Discussions for Patients at the End of Life: An Evidence-Based Analysis
Team-Based Models for End-of-Life Care: An Evidence-Based Analysis
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
