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Mailing Address:
855 West 12th Avenue, Jim Pattison Pavilion, 16th floor
Vancouver, BC
V5Z 1M9
Tel: (604) 875-4715
Fax: (604) 875-4967
BCHPCA Components of Care
Administration
The Vancouver Hospital Palliative Care Program, is at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and University of British Columbia Hospital (UBCH); both are administered and funded by Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. The Patient Services Manager and the Medical Manager at VGH manage the program. The program is a member of the Vancouver Hospice Palliative Care Consortium, an interagency group, and links closely with the Home Care Program (Vancouver Home Hospice Program). A donation fund is managed through the hospital foundation. Monies from this fund are used to enhance patient comfort, for education, for volunteer training and for the wages of the part time music therapist.
Volunteer Program
There are 20 active volunteers who provide patient and family support on the unit and are involved with the Bereavement program. They are integral to the functioning of the program. Meetings to support and educate volunteers are held twice per year.
Home Program
Home program is provided by the Home Hospice Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.
Hospital Program
Consultation services within VGH and UBCH are carried out by Palliative Care Physicians and a Clinical Nurse Specialist. We have a 14 bed in-patient palliative care unit at VGH with an active Interdisciplinary Team which includes: physiotherapist, occupational therapist, social worker, dietician, music therapist, chaplain, nurses, and physicians. Volunteers carry out the Bereavement Program.
Spiritual and Pastoral Care
There is a dedicated chaplain from the VGH Spiritual Care Department involved with the Palliative Care Program. Links are also made with community clergy/spiritual leaders.
Symptom Management
An interdisciplinary approach is used in symptom management. Both the Palliative Care Unit and Consult Team provide skilled interventions to relieve physical, spiritual and psychosocial distress. For patients who need daily physician interventions and assessment, a transfer from UBCH or from other units within VGH can be arranged with the consult team.
Bereavement Program
Volunteers do bereavement cards and telephone follow-up for friends and family of loved ones who have died on the VGH palliative care unit. Memorial services are held twice a year.
Education and Professional Training
Staff and volunteers are encouraged to participate in palliative care educational programs and conferences; funds donated to the unit are for this purpose. We participate in professional and interprofessional education for nurses, physicians and other professions. Our team members have presented at provincial, national and international conferences and workshops.
Evaluation and Research
Utilization data and quality indicators are compiled annually. The Program also participates in research on a variety of topics in patient choice/decision making, quality of life and drug evaluation studies, which are funded externally.
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