Advocacy
The Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey (GOCCNJ) plays a unique and vital role in improving care for older individuals and those living with serious or advanced illness. Serving as a catalyst for changes in policy and practice that yield improvements in end-of-life care, we build relationships with key stakeholders and policy makers, advocate for legislation, recommend strategies to improve access to advance care planning, palliative and hospice care services, lead implementation and serve as a resource for those who want accurate, objective information about quality end-of-life care.
Our Coalition was created to further the work of the NJ Governor’s Advisory Council on End-of-Life Care which identified 26 recommendations needed to reorient care for those with advanced serious illness to be aligned with the real wishes and preferences of patients and families.
Policy & Legislation:
To accomplish our mission— to improve end-of-life care and quality of life for New Jersey’s most vulnerable patients and to expand early access to and utilization of palliative and hospice care services—GOCCNJ engages in a variety of activities such as tracking legislation and educating state and federal legislators.
Palliative Care and Hospice Care Consumer and Professional Information and Education Program
The purpose of the program is to maximize the effectiveness of palliative care and hospice care initiatives in the State by ensuring that comprehensive and accurate information and education about palliative care and hospice care are available to the public, to health care providers, and to health care facilities.
Requires Emergency Departments Develop and Implement Palliative Care Plan
Requires that emergency departments of general hospitals in the State develop and implement a plan to integrate the provision of palliative care services for patients treated in the emergency department for whom palliative care is appropriate.
Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Act
Findings, declarations to practitioner orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) forms.
Establishes Public Awareness Campaign
Requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a public awareness campaign designed to foster community-wide discussions and to promote early conversations about advance care planning and patient preferences to improve decision-making about end-of-life care. Encouraging early conversations about these topics will increase awareness of advance care planning resources and will help ensure better alignment between a patient’s wishes and the care they receive at the end-of-life.
4Step iCare Plan
An Individualized End of Life Care Plan
Our 4Step iCare Plan is a simple, 4-step approach that helps patients, families, and healthcare providers navigate through challenging medical decisions.
Learn more with our video series and helpful tools
POLST
A POLST form will inform your healthcare providers about the types of medical treatment you’d like to receive. New Jersey POLST
POLST in Your State
Get Involved!
As an agent of change. Join the Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey to help improve end of life care for patients and families.
As a supporter of our efforts. We depend on the generosity of our donors to help the sickest and most vulnerable New Jerseyeans get the care they need and no less, and the care they want and no more. Donate today to help us provide critical information to patients and families and raise our voice with local, state and federal policy makers.