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Hospice Care Alliance of British Columbia (HCABC)The creation of HCABC is the result of a report entitled: Hospice Care in British Columbia: The Path Forward. Over a period of one year, health care professionals from across BC collectively prepared this first-of-its-kind report in consultation with stakeholders and hospice care experts. A key recommendation detailed in the report is the formulation of HCABC with representatives from hospice organizations, government, health authorities, professional organizations, researchers, health care facilities, charities, and patient and family groups, to accelerate the improvement of hospice care in BC. |
Volunteers CompetenciesAligned with our existing competency frameworks for health care professionals, the volunteer competencies are organized under eight headings, or domains. No matter how you decide to operationalize the competencies in your volunteer program, they are designed to help you better recruit, screen and train hospice volunteers. The new volunteer competency framework was co-created with 18 representatives of hospice organizations from across BC, and was guided by key provincial and regional hospice palliative care partners and experts. This session will help you to consider how the document will be of benefit in settings other than hospices, such as long-term care or volunteer–led community groups and organizations that support people effected with serious illness. |
Naming Definition
In 2022, the BC Centre for Palliative Care and BC Hospice Palliative Care Association kicked off an initiative to establish a common definition of the care provided by hospice societies across BC. The project originated as a response to an action item in the Hospice Care in British Columbia: The Path Forward Report which puts forth a 10-step action plan to enhance access to integrated, high-quality hospice care for all British Columbians. This project aims to fulfill action item 4 of The Path Forward plan, which calls for the establishment of a common definition of hospice care in BC. The establishment of a common definition will promote the use of consistent terminology, resulting in enhanced clarity for both the general public and stakeholders within the health system and community partners. This clarity will enable the full potential of hospice societies to be effectively utilized. Additionally, it will play a pivotal role in guiding advocacy efforts aimed at enhancing the quality and supporting the sustainability of care provided by hospice societies. |
Standardized Data Collection and Metrics:In 2013, the BCHPCA released a hospice palliative care survey report which recommended the formation of a small task group to create “a common set of definitions for terms and categories needed in future province-wide data collection.” The report also suggested an investment “in the creation of database software to facilitate ongoing data collection and improve accuracy and completeness of data.” These key recommendations were also made in the Provincial Hospice Working Group’s report, Hospice Care in British Columbia: The Path Forward. However, to date, there are no provincial standards for data collection and metrics within hospice palliative care in BC. Standardized data collection and metrics will help governments, health authorities, hospice and palliative care organizations, and the general public understand the critical role hospice societies play in communities across BC. These data can be used to improve client care and funding opportunities for hospice palliative care since the lack of stable funding sources is the most urgent of the many challenges BC Hospice Societies face. The lack of funding sources and options leads hospice societies to compete against one another rather than allowing them to work collaboratively to support residents of BC and the Yukon. |