Timely Access to End-of-life Care for Patients with Life-threatening Illness

The goal of this study is to ensure patients with cancer and other fatal illnesses receive the right kind of end-of-life care at the right time and in the right place. For this to be possible, it is essential to improve the ability of clinicians to accurately assess how long these patients will live because their expected length of survival is a key factor in determining the types of care they will receive. In a research project involving one palliative care program in BC and two in Alberta, this team is assessing the extent to which health data that is collected routinely during initial and follow-up assessments can improve the accuracy of survival estimates.

The goal of this study is to ensure patients with cancer and other fatal illnesses receive the right kind of end-of-life care at the right time and in the right place. For this to be possible, it is essential to improve the ability of clinicians to accurately assess how long these patients will live because their expected length of survival is a key factor in determining the types of care they will receive. In a research project involving one palliative care program in BC and two in Alberta, this team is assessing the extent to which health data that is collected routinely during initial and follow-up assessments can improve the accuracy of survival estimates.

The team has four researchers, four decision makers, four research/technical staff to support the day-to-day tasks, and a statistician for data analysis. As collaborating clinicians, 12-16 physicians/nurses collect additional assessment data and engage in hospice palliative care policy/practice change. A management team consisting of researchers and decision makers coordinates project activities and an advisory committee involving health authority and ministry partners provides overall direction.