Development of a Rural Palliative Care Program in the Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services

Abstract

Specialized rural models of palliative care are greatly needed to address the challenges rural communities face in providing palliative care services and to ensure that their unique strengths and needs are considered. In late 2005, a Rural Palliative Care Program was developed to support primary care providers in delivering palliative care to patients in rural communities outside of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The program was grounded in the needs of individual communities, incorporated integral roles for local champions, and adopted pre-existing, accepted rural structures and processes. Needs and gaps in rural palliative care service delivery were identified and prioritized. The following actions were taken to address the top six priorities: 1) more accessible palliative care education opportunities with a rural focus were provided to health care professionals; 2) linkages with rural and urban resources were strengthened and access to specialists and procedures was improved; 3) strategies were implemented to improve psychosocial support for patients and families; 4) resources were developed to facilitate rural home deaths; 5) opportunities were expanded for education and utilization of volunteers; and 6) a mobile specialist consultation team was developed to support rural health care professionals and their patients in their rural communities. In its first four years, the team consulted on 640 patients, nearly three-quarters of whom died in their rural communities. Rather than imposing an urban outreach strategy, the development of a rural-based program through respectful engagement of local providers has proven to be crucial to the success of this rural palliative care program.

Evaluating a model of delivering specialist palliative care services in rural New Zealand

“…2,11,15 Very few have evaluated and reported the success or otherwise of those models. 16,17 in 2015, Bakitas et al completed a comprehensive review of current practice and the state of research relating to palliative care delivery in rural settings. 10 They concluded that education was extremely valuable and could make a significant difference for low cost.…”

Rural residents' perspectives on the rural ‘good death’: a scoping review

“…Studying rural views of the ‘good death’ is important because these may differ from urban views (Spice et al . ). In addition, ageing is more pronounced in rural areas, and rural areas typically have fewer health and social services as compared to urban areas (Downing & Jack ).…”

“…While efforts are made to define 'rural' geographically (based on population density or distance from services), Wilson et al (2009a,b) suggest rural people define themselves as 'rural' and perceive themselves as different from urbanites. Studying rural views of the 'good death' is important because these may differ from urban views (Spice et al 2012). In addition, ageing is more pronounced in rural areas, and rural areas typically have fewer health and social services as compared to urban areas (Downing & Jack 2012).…”

Development of a State-Wide Pediatric Palliative Care Service in Australia: Referral and Outcomes over Two Years

“…14,19,24,25 The development of the PPCS as a state-wide service has ensured access to services regardless of where a family is located. More than half (58%) of children referred to the service reside in a regional or rural location.…”