Palliative Care without Borders: Rural Integrated Palliative Approach Team
Principal Investigator: Dr. Barbara Pesut, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, UBC Okanagan
Partner Organization: Greater Trail Hospice Society, Interior Health
Providing high quality, sustainable palliative care to Canadians who are aging with multiple chronic illnesses is a significant problem. This problem is particularly urgent for rural areas where health care resource challenges put palliative individuals at risk for lower quality care. This project will pilot a community-based Rural Integrated Palliative Approach Team (RIPAT). The purpose of this team is to provide high quality, integrated and sustainable palliative care for individuals living with chronic life-limiting illness in Trail and Castlegar. The objectives of RIPAT are (1) to provide early identification of, and support for, palliative persons and their families, (2) to provide a central and accessible point of contact for palliative information, clinical expertise and support, available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and (3) to establish an accountability process to monitor the quality of palliative care. This team of academic researchers and community based expert palliative care providers includes nurses, physicians, social workers, hospice personnel, funeral directors, family care providers and clergy. At the conclusion of this project, palliative individuals and their families will have the benefit of a multi-disciplinary team of individuals dedicated to providing high quality care through a palliative approach. For more information, read this brochure.
