Not-for-resuscitation orders in regional NSW

![CDATA[Aims: Assess the rates, usage and compliance with Not-For- Resuscitation orders (NFR) in a NSW hospital O r a l P r e s e n t e r s Australasian Journal on Ageing, Vol 34 Supplement 1, May 2015, 17–50 29 © 2015 ACOTA Methods: Medical records of patients who had died at a NSW regional hospital between January and May 2014 were reviewed. Information was collected on length of admission, whether an NFR order was completed, by whom, at what point during the admission, and whether the order had been followed or amended. Results: 61 patients died during the study period. 53 (87%) patients had an active NFR order at time of death. Reasons for not having an NFR order included younger age, dying in the Emergency Department, dying prior to review from admitting teams, and unexpected death. Average age of death was 74.8: 76.6 with an NFR order and 62.7 without. 25% of NFR orders were incorrectly completed. Errors included: 3 (5%) contradicting requests, 7 (11%) incomplete forms, and 9 (15%) with no instructions for rapid response. 55% of NFR forms were amended during admission, 49% of these within 72 hours of death, and 17% altered within 6 hours of death.]]