Getting to know the resource team.
The West Parry Sound Hospice Palliative Care Resource Team held a quarterly meeting, September 28 at the West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHC). Members shown in front, from left, are Vivian Papaiz, palliative pain and symptom consultant; current chair Carol Marshal from Belvedere Heights; and Heather Logan-Lane, pharmacist. In back, from left, are Jan Merli, executive director of Hospice West Parry Sound; Shirley O’Neill, manager of client services with NE CCAC; Nora Draper, nurse with Parry Sound Family Physicians; Linda Tiido, seniors programs manager with The Friends; and Rev Marjorie Smith from First Baptist Church. Absent from the photo are Judy Burke, WPSHC; Deborah Randall Wood, Lakeland; Guy Harris, EMS; Cathy Hennigar, discharge planner WPSHC; Nancy Wallace, NE CCAC; and Joanne Demick, Community Living Parry Sound.
Charlene Peck photo
In July 2004, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care provided funding to support planning for a provincial end-of-life project.
The goal of this strategy is to provide comprehensive, consistent and high quality palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care services that meet the medical and care needs of patients/clients and their caregivers in their community and in the most appropriate care setting. The establishment of a local committee of palliative care stakeholders is one of the components of this provincial strategy.
The West Parry Sound Hospice Palliative Care Resource Team (WPSHPCRT) has a dedicated focus on maximizing existing resources, promoting partnerships/collaboration within our region, sharing resources, establishing community education, advocating for the client/patient and defining gaps in service within the community. Membership representation on this committee consists of members from the North East Community Care Access Centre (NECCAC), pharmacy services, emergency medical responders, our local long term care facilities (Belvedere Heights and Lakeland LTC), Hospice West Parry Sound, The Friends, Community Living, Community Nursing and Home Support Agencies (VON), pain and symptom management consultant, a spiritual care provider, a consulting physician and hospital staff.
To meet the Local Health Integration Network’s (LHINs) integration and collaboration of service needs, this committee has a strong voice that advocates for local needs and service issues at the regional EOL Network and insures the continuity of information to the local service providers and public.This committee meets four or five times per year and more frequently if required.
The West Parry Sound Hospice Palliative Care Resource team has been instrumental in bringing the much needed Symptom Relief Kit (SRK) to our community and has worked with community partners to bring the standardized EOL client record to the practice of caring for our community clients in their home. These tools have aided in facilitating communication for enhanced client care and have supported clients with additional medication requirements during after-hour and weekend service needs.
We look forward to continuing to service the residents of Parry Sound district to meet their hospice palliative care needs.
The next article will offer helpful information about early care on the palliative journey.