Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) is proud to launch the ASKmeGOC Goals of Care Consult Service – an innovative, research-driven model that’s the first of its kind in Canada.
This new service will provide patients and their loved ones with meaningful, structured conversations about their treatment options, resuscitation preferences and overall goals of care, guided by a homegrown, evidence-based tool developed at RVH.
ASKmeGOC is a web-based tool created by RVH Critical Care physicians Dr. Giulio DiDiodato, Dr. Chris Martin and Dr. Doug Austgarden. Developed through Canada’s largest randomized clinical trial conducted in a community hospital, the tool standardizes how healthcare professionals’ approach sensitive care planning conversations, making them more consistent, patient-centred and aligned with each individual’s values. It’s a groundbreaking example of what hospital-led innovation can achieve when research is embedded in real-world care.
“The tool enables any trained healthcare professional, not just physicians, to initiate and navigate complex care discussions in a safe and confident way,” said Dr. Giulio Didiodato, Critical Care Medicine and Chief Research Scientist. “That’s significant in a busy hospital environment, where time constraints can often limit the ability to engage in deeply personal conversations about future care. ASKmeGOC helps close that gap, ensuring that patients feel heard, respected and fully informed as they make important decisions about their healthcare.”
At RVH, the service will be delivered by a dedicated team of eight experienced ICU nurses, each trained to lead these discussions with patients and substitute decision-makers. Through this model, RVH is not only improving care, but redefining the role nurses play in supporting patients at key moments in their health journey.
“ASKmeGOC gives us a way to bring clarity, compassion and structure to those moments, so patients feel seen, heard and supported,” said Dr. Chris Martin, Chief of Critical Care. “It’s not just about planning care—it’s about building trust and making sure that what matters most to the patient is always at the centre of the decision.”
RVH’s leadership in innovation and patient-centred care has also earned national recognition. Funding for ASKmeGOC was made possible by the Canadian Medical Association, MD Financial Management Inc. and Scotiabank as part of the Health Care Unburdened Grant program. This funding is helping expand the reach of ASKmeGOC across Ontario, reducing administrative burdens on physicians and bringing this made-in-Barrie solution to hospitals, family health teams, and long-term care homes provincewide.
The implementation of ASKmeGOC at RVH marks a significant milestone—introducing a locally developed innovation that is reshaping how goals of care conversations can take place. This initiative sets a new benchmark for patient-centred communication, demonstrating the impact of investing in tools that prioritize patients, support teams, and elevate the quality of care. As the first healthcare organization to adopt this approach, RVH is helping to lead the way for others across the province.