1. Palliative Care Matters Initiative
Ipsos Survey
Consensus Development Conference
Consensus Statement
Conference Board of Canada Report
In partnership with key national stakeholders, the Covenant Health Palliative Institute is undertaking a three-phase initiative on palliative care called Palliative Care Matters.
Palliative Care Matters is a national discussion on how Canada should support people, and a national strategy of palliative care.

2. Palliative Care Matters
Covenant Health is facilitating the project through the Palliative Institute
Conference Co-Chairs:
Karen Macmillan, Executive lead for Palliative Care, Covenant Health
Fred Horne, Consultant & former Alberta Health Minister
The first phase, listening to Canadians involved Ipsos focus groups and an on line survey with 1500 Canadians about palliative care, supported by Canadian Partnership against Cancer.
The Consensus Development Conference places the public at the centre of the conference, with a lay panel of Canadians listening to expert presentation of key questions on palliative care.
The Conference Board of Canada will produe a report summarying evidence and finding from all three phases and provide direction on policy options

3. Palliative Care Matters
Phase 1: Talking with Canadians
Ipsos Poll - Focus Groups and Online Survey
Phase 2: Consensus Development Conference
Lay Panel hears the evidence
Phase 3: Report with Actionable Recommendations
Conference Board of Canada
The first phase, listening to Canadians involved Ipsos focus groups and an on line survey with 1500 Canadians about palliative care, supported by Canadian Partnership against Cancer.
The Consensus Development Conference places the public at the centre of the conference, with a lay panel of Canadians listening to expert presentation of key questions on palliative care.
The Conference Board of Canada will produe a report summarying evidence and finding from all three phases and provide direction on policy options

4. 14 stakeholders are part of initiative and members of the steering committee for Palliative Care Matters.

5. Turning Point
Canadians have told the Palliative Care Matters that it is time for meaningful change
The Steering Committee and Canadian Reference Working Group, representing 14 key organizations, heard their call to action

6. Public Engagement
If you want to fix the health care system – ask the patient
Members of the public were meaningfully engaged throughout the planning and execution of the conference
As experts, the lay panel heard evidence and independently wrote the recommendations

7. What’s in a Name?
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness
Prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychological and spiritual
It should be provided early in the patients trajectory and can be provided alongside care intended to increase the length of life

8. A Strong Foundation
The Canadian Reference Working Group evaluated recommendations arising from the last 20 years of national consultation
The CRWG priorized six questions they felt were actionable and would have the greatest impact on the care received by dying Canadians

9. Why Six Questions?
19 national reports completed over the past two decades resulted in 192 recommendations
A thorough review of the evidence would not be possible with more than six questions
Government and stakeholders more likely to focus on fewer recommendations

10. Evidence Based Practice
Both the academic and gray literature were systematically searched to answer the 6 questions
Ipsos survey complemented the literature search with the opinions of Canadians
Lay panel provided rich interpretation of evidence through lens of their expertise and experience

11. Experience and Discernment
Lay panel represented a broad range of participants with diverse skills and connections to palliative care
Unprecedented opportunity for intense reflection, dialogue, discernment, and exploration of academic research and lived experience
Expert facilitation and support provided

12. Expert Panel
A distinguished panel of 8 academics were chosen on the basis of their expertise in each of the subjects
They supported the work of the lay panel through detailed reports, plain language summaries and answering questions

13. Together, Stronger
14 stakeholder organizations worked together and their perspectives were integrated with the feedback of Canadians they serve
The stakeholders are optimistic about the future impact of the Consensus statement.
Working together acknowledges and addresses barriers, facilitates change

14. Together, Stronger
Implementation of recommendations requires everyone to work together - governments, stakeholders, communities and the public
Recommendations represent the views of all Canadians
Aging population living with more complex conditions means greater need for access to quality palliative care

15. Patient Centered
Recommendations reflect the views of patients, their families and others caring for dying Canadians
Recommendations are not limited to medicine and the health care system
Recommendations seek a robust approach addressing the psychological, medical, sociological, spiritual needs of all involved

16. Palliative Approach
Palliative care is everyone’s business, not just the palliative care doctor or nurse, but also the heart specialist, the family doctor and the community nurse
Palliative care is provided everywhere
Palliative care is needed throughout the patient’s trajectory, beginning with life-limiting diagnosis

17. Now What?
The Conference Board of Canada is writing a report, providing context and language to make the recommendations actionable
Communities and individuals continue to advocate for better palliative care, through social media, politics and direct stakeholder engagement

18.
This website provides detailed information about the intitiative, including the key questions to be discussed, as well as registration information.
We encourage you to review the website and consider attending the conference.
This conference will be of interest to the public, people interested in policy and the delivery of quality palliative care to Canadians.