The Story of the Canadian Virtual Hospice
In 2001, a group of palliative care leaders gathered to consider whether a web-based platform could address some of the gaps in palliative care in Canada. They recognized that Canadians need a reputable source for finding information and support, whenever they need it, wherever they live.
They envisioned the creation of a “virtual hospice.” A place where:
- People without ready access to palliative care specialists could ask questions of a clinical team specialized in palliative care.
- Families could read articles about managing symptoms, accessing financial benefits, and other topics to help them navigate the health care system and communicate with their local health care providers.
- Health care professionals could easily access tools to better care for and communicate with patients and families.
- Researchers could share their latest findings, allowing front-line health care providers to stay on top of important developments.
Each year, visits to the Virtual Hospice continue to climb – from 3,000 per month in 2004 to 25,000 per month in 2008. By the end of 2008, more than 900 questions had been answered by our Ask a Professional Team, which now includes specially trained palliative care physicians, nurses, a social worker and a spiritual care adviser.
More than half the questions to Ask a Professional come from health care providers seeking guidance on complex or difficult cases. The rest of the questions come from patients, families and friends. Every person who submits a question receives a detailed personal response, often with links to local community resources.
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