Current activities of the Hospice Palliative Care Network
• The Interface Projects
• Alberta Strategic Alliance for Palliative
Care
• The ACB Oncology Hospice Palliative
Care Initiative
The Interface Projects
In response to the 2003changes to regional health authorities,
the Hospice Palliative Care Network launched its Cancer and Rural
Hospice Palliative Care Interface Projects, the goal of which
is to enhance access to hospice palliative care for cancer patients
and families living with a palliative diagnosis in Alberta. It
is envisioned that "all cancer patients and their family
members, who could benefit from hospice palliative care, have
timely access to coordinated services that are culturally appropriate."
Projects that support collaboration between key stakeholders and strengthen the links between hospice palliative care services, cancer centres, health centres, family physicians, community resources, and other providers, are funded as interface projects.
This initiative builds on a pilot Interface Project implemented in East Central Health between August 2003 and March 2004. The East Central Interface Project had one main goal: To develop a collaborative approach between the Hospice Palliative Care Network and East Central Health to enhance accessibility to hospice palliative care for cancer patients and their family members attending the Camrose and Lloydminster Community Cancer Centres. This goal is aligned with recommendations from palliative care working groups of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control and the Alberta Cancer Control Action Plan.
The East Central Health Palliative Care Consultation Team provides consultation to primary caregivers (e.g., family physicians and caregivers working in acute care, home care, and long term care) and acts as a resource team to staff of the Camrose and Lloydminster Community Cancer Centres. The project objectives are to:
- provide initial specialized hospice palliative care training to staff of the East Central Health Palliative Care Consultation Team;
- develop a referral process ensuring seamless transition between cancer centres and hospice palliative care resources available in the East Central Health Region; and.
- plan continuing professional development activities to sustain competencies of the East Central Health Palliative Care Consultation Team.
A program logic model guided the planning, implementation and evaluation of the East Central Interface Project. Click here for a .pdf illustration of the model.
In March 2004, an Interface Projects Funding Committee was established. The Committee is composed of representatives from ACB, the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta / N.W.T. Division, and Alberta's regional health authorities. The funding committee identifies the criteria for funding, reviews submission, selects, and monitors their progress.
Four additional Interface Projects were selected for 2004.
Alberta Strategic Alliance for Palliative
Care
The vision to move toward a strategic alliance for palliative
care in the province was captured at a strategic planning workshop
held by the Hospice Palliative Care Network in February 2003.
Hospice palliative care leaders from across the province attended
the workshop and gave their input regarding future directions.
One of the predominant themes was "building momentum"
for hospice palliative care services in the province, characterized
by several features important to participants such as collaboration
and integration, rural and remote focus, team-based care, performance
indicators, and use of a common language.
At the end of the workshop, the group suggested that the Hospice Palliative Care Network coordinate a meeting of hospice palliative care stakeholders from across Alberta to pursue the discussion around "building the momentum" and to further develop the concept.
In March 2004, with funding from Alberta Health and Wellness, over 60 stakeholders gathered for a two-day meeting to:
- address the critical issues in rural hospice palliative care and
- seek proactive ways to work cooperatively to explore the concept and need for a hospice palliative care structure such as the Alberta Strategic Alliance for Palliative Care.
The two days highlighted, among other issues:
- the complexities of rural hospice palliative care; and
- the importance of concerted collaboration among governmental organizations, the volunteer sector and other key stakeholders to mount an effective response to hospice palliative care in Alberta.
Participants supported the concept of a strategic alliance and voiced the need to develop a structure for the alliance. They mandated the Hospice Palliative Care Network to act as the "convener" to make the alliance a reality. Ten participants volunteered their time and expertise to building the Alberta Strategic Alliance for Palliative Care. Together, they formed an ad hoc working group to define the structure and mandate of the alliance by March 31, 2005.
The ABC Oncology Hospice Palliative
Care Initiative
In June 2004, ACB and the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA)
identified the important role of both agencies to enhance the
quality of hospice palliative care services delivered to cancer
patients. The resulting venture was named the "ABC Oncology
Hospice Palliative Care Initiative." ACB and the BCCA envision
that the venture will develop a web of activities that build on
the respective cancer agencies' strengths that will focus on:
- clinical development;
- education;
- networks development;
- policy development; and
- research.
