Taking person-centred care to a whole new level in hospice care and beyond

An idea that was first developed at Hospice Cape Breton has evolved into newly published research with the potential to enhance person-centred care across Nova Scotia Health and beyond.

The SELFY (Share, Explore, Learn and Focus on You!) tool and process captures what matters most to patients beyond their medical needs: helping healthcare teams deliver consistent, person-centred care by documenting personal preferences, routines, cultural practices and sources of comfort, and embedding them into everyday care. 

“You matter because you are you, and you matter to the last moment of your life", said palliative care physician Dr. Anne Frances D’Intino, referencing a quote from Dame Cicely Saunders. “In hospice care, we do everything we can to help you die comfortably and to live and enjoy each day until you die. To me, that’s the embodiment of patient-centred care.” 

Formerly called the Personal Patient Assessment Tool, the SELFY originated in 2021 when Lisa McNeil-Campbell, Palliative Care Volunteer program lead, was inspired at Hospice Cape Breton to capture and share everyday details that help providers understand who a patient is beyond the clinical setting.

The power of the SELFY is that it’s part of the standardized intake process. The information becomes part of a patient’s chart, making it accessible to everyone in their circle of care, including kitchen staff and volunteers (who see a redacted version). 

And for a patient and their loved ones, that information shows up in meaningful ways. Whether it’s decorating a patient’s room to reflect their favourite sport, ensuring a special comfort item is always within reach, or simply knowing someone’s hobbies and interests, the details ensure everyone is treated as their unique selves. 

“We had one gentleman who was a retired science teacher. So, we set up a projector in his room that displayed the solar system, and he’d teach the staff about the planets,” said McNeil- Campbell. 

But the team went one step further to bring him even more joy, arranging a video call with former astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield. “These moments create lasting memories for patients’ loved ones,” McNeil-Campbell added. 

Filling a gap through research 

Seeing the impact of the SELFY at Hospice Cape Breton, the team began a research project in 2023, with support from a Translating Research into Care (TRIC) grant through the QEII Foundation, to better understand the tool’s value and potential for broader use.

Professor Mary Ellen Macdonald, the J & W Murphy Foundation Endowed Chair in Palliative Care in the Division of Palliative Medicine at Dalhousie University and an affiliate scientist with Nova Scotia Health, says the approach was innovative from the start and lent itself directly to research. 

“When the Hospice Cape Breton team turned to the literature to see if they could find similar tools, there was a gap. So, they ran with developing something unique in their own setting,” she said. 

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Research highlights the power of SELFY 

Earlier this year, the cumulation of their work was published. Through research — including an international survey and interviews with patients, families and care teams — the study showed that the SELFY tool is a unique and effective way to operationalize person-centred care.

The study also highlighted a gap: while person-centred care is widely valued, there are few practical tools to deliver it consistently. 

“There’s something about person-centred care that feels intuitive, and people often think they’re already doing it,” said Macdonald. “But tools like SELFY make it consistent, ensuring every patient receives equitable, person-centred care. It becomes routine rather than dependent on an individual provider’s approach.”

Dr. Logan Lawrence, lead implementation scientist with Nova Scotia Health and a researcher on the project, says that consistency is what makes the tool stand out.

“Standardizing tools and processes help deliver more equitable healthcare by creating a shared framework for care teams,” he said. “The SELFY tool supports person-centred care while allowing teams to adapt it to their individual care settings.”

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Ultimately, the team’s research validates the approach through peer-reviewed evidence and makes the tool globally accessible, opening the door for adoption across hospices, hospitals and other care settings.

In Nova Scotia, the SELFY is now being used at five additional sites as part of a new research project: Hospice Halifax, Valley Hospice, two ICU units in Central Zone and the An Cala palliative care unit at Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

The hope is it continues to be adopted in other care settings.

The homegrown Hospice Cape Breton project now has the potential to influence care far beyond the province.

“The important part of this research is that we can translate it into patient care. And that translates into how we can add value to a person’s day,” said D’Intino. “That’s what healthcare research means to me.”

Photo 1 (left to right): Lisa McNeil-Campbell, Palliative Care Volunteer program lead, and Dr. Anne Frances D'Intino, palliative care physician, review a SELFY form