PRIORITIES / Operational Excellence in Home-Based Palliative Care
Operational Excellence in Home-Based Palliative Care
An exchange of knowledge, experience, and expertise. The new CHCA Palliative Care ECHO Hub invites home care providers and palliative care specialists to participate in a series of facilitated sessions addressing the identified gaps and challenges in home-based palliative care. Using the Project ECHO philosophy of ‘moving knowledge rather than people in order to increase access to best practices and reduce geographical health disparities’, the CHCA Palliative Care ECHO Hub will improve the ability of local health care teams to provide better palliative care at home.
Working in partnership with Pallium Canada, as part of the Palliative Care ECHO Project, the CHCA Palliative Care ECHO Hub will:
Anticipating and preparing for the palliative emergencies in home care results in better patient and family-centre care. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of potential emergencies helps providers determine the appropriate clinical interventions and better prepare and support patients and their caregivers. Our new 2022-23 ECHO Sessions will feature an in-depth look at the top 5 emergency
Breathing (Dyspnea): Signs, Symptoms and Responses (April 28, 2022)
The struggle to breath can be terrifying for patients and their caregivers. Health care providers must be aware of high-risk patients and know how to recognize the signs and symptoms of dyspnea, how to plan for care and prepare patients and their caregivers for emergencies. Join our CHCA Palliative Care ECHO Learning Session to discuss strategies to anticipate, identify and manage dyspnea while providing support for the patient and their caregivers to deal with a Breathing emergency at home.
Session Presenters:
Dr. Christine Jones, Palliative Care Physician, Island Health
Katarina Bvoc Berta R.N. CHPCN(C), Spectrum Health Care
Balance (Hypercalcemia): Signs, Symptoms and Responses (June 8, 2022)
A general feeling of being unwell, weakness, loss of appetite, thirst, constipation, nausea and vomiting and delirium are the range of symptoms people receiving palliative supports in the home may experience when blood calcium levels are out of balance. Hypercalcemia (elevated calcium levels) is a common emergency in palliative care. Which patients may be at risk? What can be done to help manage hypercalcemia in the home? This CHCA Palliative Care ECHO session will provide an overview of hypercalcemia, including symptoms and assessments, and invite participants to discuss approaches to treating and supporting patients and their caregivers.
Session Presenters,
Dr. Jennifer Shapiro, MD, CCFP
Dr. Aamir Haq, MD, CCFP (PC)
Blockages (Spinal Cord and SVC): Signs, Symptoms and Responses (Sept. 28, 2022)
Advanced illness can result in painful and distressing blockages within the body’s systems. This ECHO learning session addresses blockages frequently seen with clients receiving home-based palliative care: spinal cord compression and super vena cava obstruction. Participants will learn to recognize the signs and symptoms and how to support patients and their caregivers with appropriate interventions guided by a person’s goals of care.
Presenters:
Dr. Carmen Johnson, MD CFPC, FCFP, Medical Director, Palliative Care Services, Saskatchewan Health Authority
Bleeding (Hemorrhage): Signs, Symptoms and Responsess (Nov. 3, 2022, 12–1pm ET)
Catastrophic bleeding is a palliative care emergency which occurs in patients with cancerous and non-cancerous diagnoses. Join this ECHO session to identify patients at risk for a catastrophic bleed and the measures which can be put in place in the home to help manage bleeding and comfort and prepare patients and their caregivers.
Presenters:
Dr. Cortney Smith MD, CFPC(PC), Colchester East Hants Palliative Care Service, Northern Zone
Gayatre Maharaj, RN, MN, CON(C), CHPCN(C) Clinical Practice Leader for Palliative Care and Oncology – Bayshore HealthCare
The CHCA ECHO Hub Community provides resources to reinforce the Learning Session content and share knowledge with your team.
Self-directed microlearning to enhance your knowledge and skills
Evidence-informed practices and research articles to inform your practice
On-demand video of the Learning Session to reinforce your learning experience
Subject Matter Experts’ content slides to share with your team members
The Palliative Care ECHO Project is a 5-year national initiative that supports the creation of communities of practice, supporting continuous professional development among health care providers across Canada who care for patients with life-limiting illness. Led by Pallium Canada and partners from across Canada, the Project will deliver a continuous learning journey for health care providers to build local capacity to provide a palliative care approach to patients and their families. The Palliative Care ECHO Project is supported by a financial contribution from Health Canada.
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