PRIORITIES: Home-Based Palliative Care | Enhancing Competencies
A core element of the eiCOMPASS Project is collaboration with home-based palliative care providers to facilitate the implementation of the Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework, along with a suite of Emotional Intelligence (EI) online training programs and tools. We are achieving this objective through our SPRINT Implementation Collaborative.
Building on the success of the first SPRINT Collaborative (September 2023 to August 2024), the Accelerator phase focused on expanding reach, deepening impact, and supporting sustainable practice change. From September 2024 to March 2025, 13 home care organizations, spanning both public and private sectors, participated in the eiCOMPASS SPRINT Accelerator Collaborative. Teams implemented the Competency Framework using a range of practical tools, including EI microlearning courses, adapted self-assessments, planning templates, and targeted coaching.
February 10, 2025 | Mississauga, ON
Susan Doucette, SPRINT Team Lead, receives the King Charles III Coronation Medal for advancing compassionate, competency-based palliative care. Press Release
September 1, 2024
The CHCA will continue to expand emotional intelligence skills and competency-based education for home care providers. Press Release
June 15, 2024 | Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
The Capstone showcased national progress in building emotionally intuitive, competency-based palliative care. Press Release
September 28, 2024 | Mississauga, ON
The Collaborative unites 14 home care teams to adopt the Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework. Press Release
March 31 – April 1, 2025 | Toronto, ON
The CHCA hosted a two-day Knowledge Translation Event to celebrate learning, foster collaboration, and spark future partnerships. The event brought together SPRINT teams and broader system stakeholders for a meaningful exchange of ideas and insights.
Day 1: SPRINT Accelerator Team Presentations (March 31)
The 13 Accelerator teams delivered a concise presentation highlighting their goals, outcomes, and key learnings from the Accelerator. Facilitators helped surface key insights, and the afternoon concluded with one-on-one team interviews. The day provided space for teams to reflect, share what worked, and connect more deeply with peers who had navigated similar challenges and milestones.
Day 2: National Healthcare Provider Workshop (April 1)
SPRINT Accelerator teams, national stakeholders, and partners from McMaster University’s Waiting Room Revolution gathered to mark the culmination of two national palliative care projects. The event focused on emotional intelligence, communication, and competency-building in palliative care. Plenaries and workshops showcased real-world impact, sustainability strategies, and provider transformation. The teams were motivated, inspired by shared achievements, and eager to collaborate in future phases of this important work.
A panel discussion featuring Dr. Lester Krames (family caregiver), Katy Mol (Practice and Quality Consultant, VON Canada), Susan Doucette (Provincial Palliative Home Care Clinical Development Coordinator, Health PEI) and Dr. Sammy Winemaker (Palliative Care Specialist) explored how practical tools, emotional intelligence, and compassionate communication can provide caregivers and providers with confidence, resilience, and support.
View the plenary session video recording
Access the Be Prepared Conversation Guides
Visit the Waiting Room Revolution
Insights from the Canadian Home Care Association’s eiCOMPASS Project and the McMaster Seven Keys Roadmap emphasized competency frameworks, emotional intelligence strategies, and practical tools to enhance the delivery of home-based palliative care.
View the plenary session video recording
Access the Be Prepared Conversation Guides
Visit the Waiting Room Revolution
Featured organizations are transforming home-based palliative care by integrating the Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework and microlearning courses in emotional intelligence to create a lasting impact on providers, patients, and their families.
View the plenary session video recording
Access the Be Prepared Conversation Guides
Visit the Waiting Room Revolution
June 11–12, 2024 | Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
The eiCOMPASS SPRINT Capstone Event, held over two days in Niagara-on-the-Lake, brought together 80 healthcare stakeholders representing palliative care and home care organizations from across the country to celebrate achievements, share learnings, and plan for sustainability. CHCA Board Chair Vikas Sethi launched the event, followed by the SPRINT Talk – A Road to Success, hosted by CHCA CEO Nadine Henningsen. Special guests Julia Moore and Mike Hindmarsh provided insights on quality improvement and implementation science. SPRINT teams across Canada presented their progress in implementing the Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework, highlighting key successes and lessons learned. The day concluded with a SPRINT Recognition Awards Dinner, celebrating outstanding contributions and fostering community among participants.
Day two focused on long-term sustainability, with teams engaging in workshops to develop strategies for embedding the Competency Framework and Emotional Intelligence (EI) training into their organizations.
As the event wrapped up, CHCA CEO Nadine Henningsen emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Participants left with concrete action plans, reinforcing their commitment to delivering compassionate, competency-driven palliative care across Canada.
September 27–28, 2024 | Mississauga, ON
The CHCA SPRINT On-Boarding Forum brought together 45 participants for an intensive two-day session to equip SPRINT Collaborative teams with essential skills and knowledge for their nine-month initiative. The event featured expert-led discussions on emotional intelligence, competency frameworks, quality improvement, and implementation science. JP Pawliw-Fry emphasized the role of emotional intelligence in leadership, while Susan Blacker and Kathleen Yue highlighted the importance of competency frameworks in palliative care. Mike Hindmarsh unpacked quality improvement methods, and Dr. Julia Moore provided insights on evidence-based practice implementation. Nadine Valk explored the transformative power of coaching in driving meaningful organizational change. The second day focused on practical workshops, immersing participants in CHCA’s SPRINT Tools, including Emotional Intelligence (EI) Microtraining Courses and Conversation Guides for Palliative Care Emergencies, to support their implementation efforts.
The 14 SPRINT teams reported significant progress in competency development and emotional intelligence integration:
This project has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.
This post is also available in: French