The Suburban Times

A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County.

  • Home
  • To Know
  • To Do
  • To Ponder
  • Obituaries
  • Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • More
    • Share your story
    • Submit an Event
    • Contact

Franciscan grant leads to Palliative Care Academy

August 12, 2013 By The Suburban Times

TACOMA, Wa. — Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment.  As the demand for this type of care grows, the need for health professionals trained in providing palliative care will be equally great.

This growing need is being addressed in Washington with a new Palliative Care Academy designed to provide specialized training to health care professionals from around the country. The Cambia Health Foundation has awarded a two year, $250,000 grant to Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care for the creation of a training academy to educate physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in generalist palliative care principles. The Palliative Care Academy will provide education and support for practicing clinicians, enhancing their quality care of patients.

In the U.S. it is estimated that there is one cardiologist for every 71 people experiencing a heart attack but only one palliative care specialist for every 1,700 people living with a serious or life threatening illness.  By the year 2020 there will be approximately 74 million people over the age of sixty-five living in the U.S.  Eighty percent of those people will suffer from at least one chronic disease, resulting in pain, symptom burden and increased suffering.  There will not be enough palliative care specialists to care for this growing population of patients.  All clinicians will need to be trained in generalist palliative principles in order to provide ongoing quality care for patients in need of palliative support.

“We are pleased to partner with Franciscan in supporting efforts to educate today’s health care professionals to meet the palliative care needs of tomorrow’s patients,” said Peggy Maguire, president and board chair of the Cambia Health Foundation. “Cambia Health Foundation is committed to the promotion of compassionate, high-quality palliative care that enables patient choice and promotes person-focused end-of-life care.”

“Through this new academy, we have a unique opportunity to build the quality and accessibility of palliative care in our region, and beyond, by sharing the expertise and resources that Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care has developed over many years of palliative care delivery,” says, Mimi Pattison, MD, Medical Director of Palliative Medicine, Franciscan Health System.  “Educating more practitioners in palliative care will help us fulfill our goals to be the best place to heal and the best community resource.”

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Related

Top Stories

  • What's Next, Tahoma Beer? - Name Changes . . . for the good
    What's Next, Tahoma Beer? - Name Changes . . . for the good
  • Some Pierce County restaurants open dining rooms under new open-air rules
    Some Pierce County restaurants open dining rooms under new open-air rules
  • More COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and access points to end the pandemic
    More COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and access points to end the pandemic
  • Selden Family to receive Larry Saunders Service Award
    Selden Family to receive Larry Saunders Service Award
  • Letter: One Interesting Catch
    Letter: One Interesting Catch

Become a better informed citizen.

Join over 30,000 readers each month and get real-local news and information direct to your inbox, Monday-Saturday.


Recent Comments

  • Paul Nimmo on Developer files application to build 36-unit multifamily development on Gravelly Lake Dr. in Lakewood
  • Gail on What's Next, Tahoma Beer? – Name Changes . . . for the good
  • Marilyn Reid on What's Next, Tahoma Beer? – Name Changes . . . for the good
  • Gilbert Miller on Selden Family to receive Larry Saunders Service Award
  • Don Doman on What's Next, Tahoma Beer? – Name Changes . . . for the good

Contact Us

The Suburban Times
P.O. Box 39099
Lakewood, WA 98496

Ben Sclair, Publisher
253-312-1804

Stephen Neufeld, Marketing Executive
stephen@thesubtimes.com

Copyright © 2021 The Suburban Times • Log in • Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.