Posted November 5, 2017 Article by Diana Kleinloog

Article for newspaper on palliative care association strategic planning meeting

At the beginning of October, the Sundre Palliative Care Association hosted the first meeting with many of the stakeholders who participate in palliative care in Sundre. We wanted to have all the invested parties in the same room to facilitate a meaningful conversation. Among those groups in attendance were people from the medical clinics, pharmacies, Greenwood Neighbourhood Place, social work, mental health, spiritual, Primary Care Network, the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre and our own Palliative Care Resource Nurse. Conflicting schedules prevented others from attending; we hope they and others will join us for the next meeting. 

Our aim was first and foremost to acquaint ourselves with each of the partners who provide important needs for the palliative patient and their families. It was enlightening to hear what service everyone provides. Many of us learned things about the other stakeholders that we didn’t know before. We had a greater appreciation to all for the services they provide and the passion they have for the palliative community. We came away truly inspired for the amazing possibilities for the palliative patient. 

Our main goal was to provoke conversation, open the dialog for ways to improve how we serve the palliative community, and to set goals to strive for. We came away with a unanimous consensus to improving the overall communication between each of the entities in Sundre who are experts in their area. The Sundre Palliative Care Association understands that a central web site that all people in the community can access would be of great benefit to all caregivers, patients and their families. To that end, we are hoping to have a web site up and running in the very near future. Stay tuned for details.

We renewed our pledge to providing funding for palliative education for staff in Sundre. It is paramount to us that we support the education and knowledge building of our physicians, nurses and other staff members. 

Another goal we have is to fund palliative equipment for the patient who is palliating at home. Our aim is to contribute to any equipment needed to help the patient stay at home if that is what they wish. 

Our wish is to continue the excellent conversation we started and keep our goals in sight. As culture of palliative care providers, we want to be approachable to each other and to all those in the community who would like to get information or services from us. We intend on holding another meeting early in the new year which will keep the momentum of conversation going forward. 

“The desire is for all persons with a life limiting illness to have the hope of caring and comfort, and the means to spend their remaining life in the best way possible, wherever that may be”.