An Acute Resuscitation Plan (ARP) is a medical order initiated and completed by a medical officer through the completion of the ARP form SW065 Acute Resuscitation Plan. The form is authorised by the most senior medical practitioner available and provides information about:
- the patient’s health condition
- medically appropriate resuscitation management plans in the event of an emergency
- treatment that is available and is recommended
- substitute decision-maker(s) if the patient loses capacity to make their own health decisions
- preferences about life-sustaining measures, including whether it is medically appropriate to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
ARPs can be used in any health setting in Queensland, including but not limited to public sector and private health services and facilities; residential aged care facilities; general practice and primary care; and a patient’s home. Medical practitioners and other health professionals working outside of Queensland’s public sector should be aware of legislative, legal and indemnity information before completing an ARP.
ARP form and Quick Guide
The Quick Guide contains important information and should be read before completing the ARP form.
Cover sheet
A patient may be transferred between health services and facilities (or home) with a copy of their active ARP form and an ARP Cover Sheet.
Clinical Guidelines
The ARP Clinical Guidelines provides guidance for Queensland Health practitioners in relation to the Acute Resuscitation Plan.
Ordering ARP forms
ARP form SW065 can be ordered at WINC using the code 1NY31841 in packs of 100.
- ARP resources
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- Acute Resuscitation Plan: Clinical Guidelines (PDF 1.6 MB)
- Acute Resuscitation Plan: Quick Guide (PDF 1.2 MB)
- Acute Resuscitation Plan: Form (PDF 1.2 MB)
- Acute Resuscitation Plan: Form (interactive) (PDF 340KB)
- Acute Resuscitation Plan: Cover sheet (PDF 698 kB)
- Acute Resuscitation Plan: Frequently asked questions (PDF 190 kB)
- Acute Resuscitation Plan: Information for patients (PDF 122 kB)
- Acute Resuscitation Plans via The Viewer (PDF 95 kB)
- 7-Step Acute Resuscitation Plan Pathway (PDF 572 kB)
- End-of-life care: Guidelines for decision-making about withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining measures from adult patients (PDF 1.2 MB)
- Flowcharts for providing healthcare and withholding/withdrawing life-sustaining measures (PDF 1.5 MB)
- Life-sustaining measures and legal considerations (PDF 158 kB)
- Advance Care Planning Clinical Guidelines (PDF 5.9 MB)
- 6 Step Advance Care Planning Process (PDF 1.4 MB)
- Advance Care Planning Quick Guide (PDF 125 kB)—a tool to identify people who are most likely to benefit from advance care planning
- Guide to Informed Decision-making in Health Care 2nd edition (PDF 1.3 MB)
An ARP v0.6 Power Point presentation is available for adaptation/use by Queensland Health Hospital and Health Services to support education about the ARP
- Related resources
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- Clinical Practice Guidelines: Resuscitation/Resuscitation – General guidelines
- Clinical Practice Guidelines: Resuscitation/Resuscitation - Adult
- Withholding and Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Measures: Decision making framework
- Advance Health Directives and ‘Less Restrictive Way’ of Treatment
- End of Life Law for Clinicians: Education and information for clinicians and medical students about the law relating to end of life decision-making
- Legislative, legal and indemnity information
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The Queensland Health ARP form has been developed as a clinical support tool for use in ‘public sector health services’ and ‘public sector health facilities’ as defined by Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 (Qld). The ARP form includes references to legal considerations, policies, indemnities, procedures and conditions of use which may apply only to usage in ‘public sector health services’ and ‘public sector health facilities’. For usage in other services and facilities, these considerations may not apply and/or other considerations may apply, for which independent legal advice or other professional advice is recommended. While usage of the ARP form by other services and facilities is authorised by Queensland Health, it is the responsibility of medical practitioners and other health professionals completing the ARP form or using a completed ARP form, without limitation, to independently and adequately satisfy themselves of all relevant matters to the standards applicable at law. To the fullest extent permissible by law, Queensland Health excludes all warranties, representations and liability in relation to the use of this ARP form.
