St. Paul’s Hospital Palliative Care
Mailing Address:
St. Paul’s Hospital
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC
V6Z 1Y6
Tel: (604) 682-2344 ext. 2297
Fax:
BCHPCA Components of Care
Administration
The program is administered by the Patient Care Leader and the Medical Director. Funding through St. Paul’s global budget via the B.C. Ministry of Health. A donation fund is also managed through the hospital foundation. Monies from this fund are used to enhance patient comfort and for education and research purposes. The fund also supports volunteer training and the Bereavement Program.
Volunteer Program
We have 30 active volunteers working one 3-hour shift each week, covering the unit from 9 am until 9 pm. The Volunteer Coordinator works right on the unit 3 days a week. Training sessions (total 24 hours) are held twice a year. Support meetings are held every 6 weeks and the PCU staff is involved in an annual volunteer recognition event.
Home Program
We work closely with community services in following our patients and families.
Hospital Program
A. 15 bed in-patient palliative care unit for symptom management, respite and ongoing terminal care.
Care is provided by an Interdisciplinary Team on the Palliative Care Unit. Consultation is provided to other Units of St. Paul’s hospital as well as in the home or community care facility. The Palliative Care Program cooperates with other regional Hospice/Palliative Care Programs to provide optimal care.
B. Consultation service for palliative care patients throughout the hospital.
Spiritual & Pastoral Care
A Pastoral Care Associate is designated to the unit from the hospital’s Pastoral Care Department.
Symptom Management
The unit is situated in a quaternary acute care teaching hospital. The main populations are AIDS and cancer but those with other end-stage diagnoses are also admitted to P.C.U.
Because we have a unit with 24-hour nursing and medical coverage and access to special equipment and skills within the hospital, we are able to specialize in intensive symptom management and operate as a resource and referral centre for the region.
Bereavement Program
Our bereavement program consists of a quarterly memorial service, written and telephone follow-up to friends and family, structured and drop-in weekly bereavement groups.
Education and Professional Training
The 2nd year Family Practice Medical Residents have a 2-week rotation on PCU.
The unit accepts pre and post-graduate students for electives and practicums in all disciplines.
Members of the Palliative Care Team have presented at hospital rounds and provincial and national conferences.
Some donated funding is available to send staff and volunteers to relevant educational opportunities.
We maintain a library, subscribe to the Journal of Palliative Care and Palliative Medicine (Arnold).
Regular team days are scheduled for staff development and support.
Evaluation & Research
Quality Improvement projects are ongoing. Research projects are carried out when external funding is made available.
Organization Mission Statement
The Palliative Care Program at St. Paul’s Hospital strives to provide comprehensive and coordinated care to individuals with life-threatening illness, as well as to their families. It does so by addressing the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs that accompany the dying process. This approach to care is responsive to those we care for and respectful of their choices, within the context of professionally accepted standards of conduct and practice, and according to the philosophy of St. Paul’s Hospital.
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