A recent review reveals what many of observe in practice: clinicians use the phrase "goals of care" in a variety of ways, often with a definition more assumed than revealed. The phrase is of particular importance when it is used to refer to a certain kind of conversation between a clinician and patient (or family), often called a "goals of care discussion." Sometimes the need for such a discussion is a clincian's shorthand way of indicating it is time to clarify a patient's code status or shift the focus of care to palliation. At other times, goals of care discussions refer to the need for a specific approach to conversation about a more general plan of care.

To read the rest of the article, click here.