Posted on May 7: Family Medicine launches new division of palliative care

McMaster's Department of Family Medicine has launched a new division of palliative care.

Much has changed in the delivery of end-of-life care. Palliative care has developed into a specialty and there is a need for more primary care support and integration. For example, family doctors have become more clinic-based and home care and hospital care needs to be fostered. Family doctors have continuing education needs and require frequent advice and support from palliative care specialists and there is a shortage of family doctors to care for terminally ill patients.

The team approach to palliative care has become well established. The team includes family doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, occupational and physiotherapists and volunteers.

A Senate Committee, chaired by senator Sharon Carstairs, identified these systemic issues, and made many recommendations on how to improve the present situation.

McMaster's division will develop an academic program that will:

Forge partnerships with local institutions and experts to develop a comprehensive region-wide academic program

Recruit and retain the finest faculty to teach learners

Work closely with other stakeholders to ensure a model of service delivery that is sustainable

Establish state-of-the-art curricula for training students, residents and physicians

Develop a recognized research program to evaluate effectiveness in meeting the needs of the community to provide palliative care

In announcing the new division, the Department of Family Medicine is renewing a commitment to this area of primary care. The development of the division will include reorganizing training programs, enhancing undergraduate, postgraduate and fellowship curricula, establishing renewed leadership, promoting scholarship, forging new partnerships and creating a business plan to ensure that future physicians are trained to provide comprehensive end-of-life care to the community in a sustainable model.

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McMaster&#039;s Department of Family Medicine has launched a new division of palliative care. <p><br />
<br />
Much has changed in the delivery of end-of-life care.  Palliative care has developed into a specialty and there is a need for more primary care support and integration.  For example, family doctors have become more clinic-based and home care and hospital care needs to be fostered.  Family doctors have continuing education needs and require frequent advice and support from palliative care specialists and there is a shortage of family doctors to care for terminally ill patients.<p><br />
<br />
The team approach to palliative care has become well established.  The team includes family doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, occupational and physiotherapists and volunteers.  <p><br />
<br />
A Senate Committee, chaired by senator Sharon Carstairs, identified these systemic issues, and made many recommendations on how to improve the present situation.  <p><br />
<br />
McMaster&#039;s division will develop an academic program that will:<ul><br />
<br />
<li>Forge partnerships with local institutions and experts to develop a comprehensive region-wide academic program</li><br />
<li>Recruit and retain the finest faculty to teach learners</li><br />
<li>Work closely with other stakeholders to ensure a model of service delivery that is sustainable</li><br />
<li>Establish state-of-the-art curricula for training students, residents and physicians</li><br />
<li>Develop a recognized research program to evaluate effectiveness in meeting the needs of the community to provide palliative care</li></ul><br />
<br />
In announcing the new division, the Department of Family Medicine is renewing a commitment to this area of primary care.  The development of the division will include reorganizing training programs, enhancing undergraduate, postgraduate and fellowship curricula, establishing renewed leadership, promoting scholarship, forging new partnerships and creating a business plan to ensure that future physicians are trained to provide comprehensive end-of-life care to the community in a sustainable model.

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