Which practice is a core component of anticipatory care planning?

• A. Delaying all discussions until a crisis.
• B. Avoiding advance directives.
• C. Early goals-of-care discussions, advance directives, and regular reassessment of goals.
• D. Only discussing financial matters.

Answer: (C)

Anticipatory care planning centers on proactive, patient‑centered planning for future medical care through open conversations about goals, values, and acceptable outcomes, and by documenting those preferences. The best option reflects this by combining early goals‑of‑care discussions, the creation of advance directives to record preferences in writing, and regular reassessment of goals as the clinical situation evolves. This approach ensures care aligns with what the patient values and provides clear guidance for clinicians when decisions need to be made. Delaying discussions until a crisis removes patient input at a critical time, avoiding advance directives skips a formal way to capture preferences, and focusing only on financial matters does not address medical care planning.