- 336 views
- 290 downloads
Assessment of Decision-Making Capacity in Adults with Diseases and Disabilities: Is the Decision-Making Capacity Assessment Model Appropriate for Alberta? - Final Report February 2012 - March 2012
-
- Author(s) / Creator(s)
-
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY An evaluation was conducted of the Decision-Making Capacity Assessment Model (DMCA Model). The DMCA Model was developed in the Province of Alberta to provide guidance and support to health care professionals working with clients whose ability to make independent decisions regarding personal affairs (classified according to the domains of health care, place of residence, choice of friends and acquaintances, legal matters, and participation in social, educational or employment activities), and/or financial matters is in question as a result of disease or disability. The aim of the evaluation was to determine the strengths and limitations of the Model. To evaluate the DMCA Model, feedback was collected from health care professionals (psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, nurses, occupational therapists, physicians), who have utilized the Model as it has been implemented in various health care sites in the Edmonton and Calgary areas. Staff feedback was collected through focus groups with mentoring team members and court-appointed Designated Capacity Assessors (DCAs), as well as through a survey administered to attending and mentoring team members, and DCAs at participating sites . Evaluation results based on the 46 focus group participants and 123 survey respondents indicate that the DMCA Model currently utilized in the Calgary and Edmonton areas is effective and warrants being implemented - with adaptation specific to various sites - throughout the province of Alberta. While other models have been utilized elsewhere, the DMCA Model currently being utilized and implemented in Calgary and Edmonton offers an holistic inter-disciplinary approach to capacity assessment that maximizes client autonomy, offers the least restrictive and intrusive solutions, and facilitates collaboration between health care professionals within and among health care facilities/agencies.
-
- Date created
- 2012-06-01
-
- Subjects / Keywords
-
- Type of Item
- Report