Palliative Care

The Team

Nursing – A primary palliative care nurse is assigned to each patient. The nurse may visit a patient at home, in the hospital or personal care home. The palliative care nurse becomes the patient’s resource for issues related to their illness. The palliative care nurse communicates and works with the patient’s health care providers to manage the patient’s care and symptoms.

Physicians – There are three physicians attached to the Regional Palliative Care Team. All of these physicians have contract positions with Southern Health-Santé Sud and different geographic areas of responsibility. All of our physicians have taken extra training in palliative care and are actively involved in education and regularly present at provincial and national conferences.

Social Work – The social worker can help with:

• Practical Issues – information about specific financial resources, such as the Compassionate Care Benefit and the Terminal Illness Application for CPP.
• Psychological Support – discussions to help with the multitude of decisions related to end of life care and the personal and familial challenges related to the changes which occur at end of life.
• Exploration of the emotional impact of illness and the effect it has on coping and strategies to manage fear, anxiety, anger and sadness while caregiving.
• Social Support – how to communicate with your partner, children, family, friends or colleagues about illness and end of life.
• Bereavement – support for spouses, children and families as they journey through the grief process.
• Referral – help to find peer and group supports, education and information.

Hours of Operation – Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
For after hours Palliative Care Nurse telephone consultation: Monday – Thursday, 4:30 pm – 8:30 am; Weekends, starting Friday at 4:30 pm to Monday 8:30 am

Contact Information

Palliative Care Program
8 – 380 Stone Bridge Cross, Steinbach MB R5G 2R1
204-346-7034 | 204-388-2049

Manager, Health Services – Palliative Care 204-905-3302
Palliative Care Coordinator 204-392-3115

How to Refer

Anyone, including a patient, may refer to the Palliative Care Program. This can be done by completing the referral form or by calling the central intake number at 204-346-7034.

• Referrals are triaged Monday – Friday 8:30 am -4:30 pm (excluding Statutory Holidays)
• If a referral is urgent, mark as urgent and call the Palliative Coordinator.
• If you are wanting a consult with Palliative Care, check off the “Consult” box on the referral. Consults may be helpful when it is unclear that Palliative Care registration is appropriate, or when one-time input from a Palliative Care team member or members may be helpful.

Resources when referring

SPICT – Helps clinicians identify people with one or more general indicators of poor or deteriorating health and clinical signs of life-limiting conditions for assessment and care planning.

PPS – The Victoria Hospice Palliative Performance Scale (PPSv2) Version 2 is a validated clinical tool which measures functional performance.

Supports

Home Care – is an expert resource to help ensure that supports are provided when a patient’s goals of care are to stay at home.

Health Care Aide and Nursing supports are available. Home care coordinators will assess the needs and develop a personalized care plan to assist and support in the daily living activities. If at any time the needs change, the case coordinator will reassess and adjust the care plan accordingly.

Health Care Aides – Provide support with Activities of Daily Living based on an assessment done by the Case Coordinator.

Nursing – Provide scheduled nursing tasks and assessments, in collaboration with the Palliative Care Nurse to ensure quality and comfort for patients.

Equipment & Supplies – Provided in the home to help manage care as End of Life approaches. Equipment such as a hospital bed and commode can be ordered for use in the home. Incontinence supplies, dressings, and other supplies can also be provided when appropriate.

Volunteers – A palliative care team member can arrange a referral for volunteer services.

Caregiver Support