Chapter 4: Using Standardized Tools 49 Using Standardized Tools The Rationale for Using Standardized Tools The focus of this chapter is to provide health care providers (HCPs) with standardized tools for gathering information and for screening and assessing symptoms as you strive to provide excellent hospice and palliative care. Standardized tools have been validated by multiple researchers and are known to gather consistent information. The standardized tools presented here are widely used across Canada and the United States; however, this col- lection of tools is not exhaustive. In your practice, you might encounter other standardized tools commonly used in your location, community, hospital, or hospice. Follow your employer’s policies and procedures when determin- ing which tool to use. It will be helpful to familiarize yourself with these tools so that when the need for a tool arises you know where to find it. As with any tool kit, you will want to choose when and how to use the tools. Do not feel that you need to read this chapter from begin- ning to end. Rather, become familiar with the tools, and refer to them as they are mentioned throughout the text. Note the following: • Certain assessment tools, such as the Palliative Per- formance Scale (PPS), can be completed on the basis of observation; others require input from the dying person and/or the family. • People may experience “assessment fatigue” when presented with too many questions. It may be helpful to clarify with the person and the family when and how to best complete the assessment. 4 Tools Described in This Chapter Screening Tools for Identifying People Who Might Benefit from Integrating a Palliative Approach. . . . . . . 51 Symptom Screening Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Symptom Assessment Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 SBAR Communication Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Psychosocial Assessment Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 IDEA Ethical Decision-Making Framework. . . . . . . . . . 92