Building a More Inclusive Palliative Care Model in Vancouver
Advancing palliative care for those at the margins—how PHC’s Innovation Platform is driving research and collaboration to create more inclusive, compassionate care models.
Impact Innovation Research | Innovarium
In 2021, a seed was planted when the Providence Health Care (PHC) Division of Palliative Medicine approached the Department of Medicine Innovation Platform with a vision: to create a professorship specialized in the study of palliative care for those often left at the margins of our health care system.
The team recognized a critical gap in serving vulnerable patients in Vancouver's Downtown East Side (DTES). Their proposal wasn't just about medical care—it aimed to bring together experts from nursing, social work, and various medical specialties to action a multidisciplinary approach to address the complex needs of this community.
Dr. Rachel Carter, PhD, Palliative Research Scholar with Dr. Gil Kimel, MD, FRCPC, Division Head, Palliative Medicine
From Vision to Reality
With the help of the St. Paul's Foundation's (SPF) fundraising efforts, their vision has become reality. For the past 18 months, a dedicated research scholar has been working within the PHC Division of Palliative Medicine, supported by Providence Research and the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, and the progress is palpable.
The team has secured $85,000 in additional funding from respected organizations including Michael Smith Health Research BC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the University of British Columbia (UBC). This financial support has fueled several important research projects, all focused on making palliative care more accessible and effective for everyone.
Current projects are exploring the questions that matter:
- How is palliative care currently provided in the DTES, and what do health care providers, frontline workers, and patients say about it?
- What insights can paramedics share about palliative care pathways for vulnerable populations?
- How can we improve hospice care for older adults without stable housing?
- What approaches work best for care planning with people experiencing homelessness and substance use?
These aren't just academic exercises—they're partnerships with Vancouver Coastal Health, Healthcare Excellence Canada, BC Emergency Health Services, McGill University, and community organizations to create practical solutions.
The research program has welcomed nine trainees, including medical students and residents, helping to cultivate a new generation of health care providers who understand the unique challenges of providing compassionate end-of-life care for all members of our community.
While we continue working toward the ultimate goal of establishing a PHC Professorship in Palliative Care, the research scholar role has already made significant contributions to our understanding of how to provide a more inclusive and effective model of care.
Innovative at our core
The Department of Medicine Innovation Platform is the avenue for Department members to address gaps in care at PHC. Initiatives could span divisions, departments and beyond. If you have a great idea and want to learn how to move it forward, visit the DOM Innovation Platform website. The DOM Innovation Platform is part of Innovarium, Providence Health Care's innovation engine that connects people, systems, infrastructure, and partners to accelerate health innovation.
