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PALLIATIVE
CARE,
PAIN & SYMPTOM
MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM
" Guidelines for
developing a Pain Management Program"
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Click here to view or download the manual online-
THE FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM
The
Lambton Palliative Care Pain and Symptom Management Program
works towards ensuring that
persons
with advanced disease or terminal illnesses and their families have
access to
health care providers who have
expertise in the management of
pain and other distressful symptoms.
Many
agencies and facilities in our region have developed palliative care
services. As in other centers across Ontario, these programs may vary
in
structure, services provided and accessibility.
The
purpose of the initiative is not to duplicate existing services. Our
purpose is to develop a process to ensure that all persons in our county
have
equal access to efficient pain control and symptom management.
SERVICES OFFERED
The
Consultant, a Registered Nurse supported by a
physician and pharmacist , provides:
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telephone
consultation and information service to
other health care providers and the public.
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on-site
pain & symptom management consultation & education in Long Term Care
Facilities.
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home
consultation for cancer pain & symptom management and pain
issues in the cognitively impaired person.
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palliative
care education courses, workshops and conferences.
Information
about pain & symptom management, available community care resources,
palliative care education and palliative issues in general is available.
Having
such a resource - especially to those facilities or agencies where
presently no palliative care service exists - will help ensure access to
palliative care resources and may allow persons to remain in their homes
or long term care facilities longer perhaps until their death.
The
Lambton County Palliative Care Multi-disciplinary Education Program provides
education in the Level I, Advanced Level Physician
Education, Refresher Days and
Mentor Programs, and Comprehensive Advanced Palliative Care Education
(CAPCE). The Consultant in collaboration with the Lambton
County Palliative Committee Committee manages this program.
The Victorian Order of Nurses,
Sarnia/Lambton, manages the Palliative Care Volunteer Visiting Program.
HOW TO USE THE
SERVICES OF THE PROGRAM
Health
Care Providers - from hospitals, long-term care facilities and the
community agencies - and any individuals or family members dealing with
life-threatening illnesses are encouraged to call .
HOW TO MAKE CONTACT
The
Consultant and the Registered Nurses working in the Palliative Care Unit
at the Lambton Hospitals Group have expertise in palliative care.
When
the Consultant is not available the Palliative Care Unit nurses take the
calls.
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Consultant
0800-1600 hours, Monday-Friday call 519 - 542 -1686 and leave a
message for Ann Brignell
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Palliative
Care Unit after hours and on Sundays call 519 - 464 - 4400 ext. 8542
Support
is available to you 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
HOW THIS PROGRAM ORIGINATED
In
December 1992, the Ministry of
Health announced funding for 4
initiatives designed to enhance the care of those with life-threatening
or terminal illnesses. The 4 initiatives are:
1.
Education
of interdisciplinary service
providers
2.
Education
of family physicians
3.
Supporting
and maintaining hospice volunteer
visiting programs
4.
Establishing
pain and symptom management teams in all areas of Ontario
(Palliative Care Initiatives for Ontario: A Partnership for Caring. July
1993)
A
collaborative proposal was submitted and accepted from the Tri-County
region of Lambton, Kent and Essex. Currently,
Saint Joseph’s Health Centre London is designated as the sponsor for
initiative # 1 and #4, for the 10 counties of South western Ontario SJHC receives the program funding through the
Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Office.
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