The Quality Hospice Palliative Care Coalition of Ontario – Quality Hospice Palliative Care Coalition of Ontario

Working to ensure quality hospice palliative care in all care settings from home to hospital, throughout the province.

The Quality Hospice Palliative Care Coalition of Ontario was formed in 2010 to bring together organizations, universities and research institutions working at a provincial level in the hospice palliative care field.

Comprised of provincial associations and academic centres
Coalition members represent over 900 health service providers working in palliative care including: community residential hospice and visiting hospice services, long-term care, hospitals, retirement homes, and home care
These health service providers employ over 10,000 regulated staff and 15,000 unregulated staff, and utilize over 14,000 volunteers in the delivery of care
HPCO is the secretariat coordinating the work of the coalition

Current Coalition Members

A Declaration of Partnership to Advance High Quality, High Value Hospice Palliative Care
Joint Priorities agreed to by MOHTLC, LHINs and Coalition Partners

Since 2011 the Coalition has been working collaboratively with Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Local Health Integration Networks to review how hospice palliative care is provided in Ontario and identify priorities to achieve quality hospice palliative care for all Ontarians. This work resulted in a Declaration of Partnership that identified six priorities:

Broadened access timeliness of access to hospice palliative care
Strengthening caregiver supports
Strengthen service capacity and human capital in all care settings
Improve integration and continuity across care settings providing hospice palliative care (including the home)
Strengthen accountability and introduce mechanisms for shared accountability
Build public awareness… engage the public conversation

Within each priority area Coalition partners, LHINs, and MOHLTC agreed to dozens of action commitments deemed necessary to improve hospice palliative care. MOHLTC, LHINs (now Ontario Health) and Coalition partners are now working to carry out the action commitments from policy, planning, and service delivery perspectives.

Integrating a system of hospice palliative care that meets the needs of all Ontarians is a significant job but working as a Coalition in collaboration with government we can achieve our goal of quality hospice palliative care for all Ontarians.

Why is transformation of hospice palliative care needed?

Meet the increasing demand for HPC services
Enhance sustainability by delivering better value
Un-silo the system

The Old Approach

Individuals with advanced chronic disease(s) or complex care needs receive care that is reactive, targeted, disease-focused, centering on curative treatment, and delivered by multiple, siloed, individual providers in distinct, acute episodes.

The New Approach

Adults and children with advanced or EOL chronic disease(s) and their informal support network will receive care and support that is proactive, holistic, person and family-focused, centering on quality of life and symptom management issues, and delivered by a virtually integrated inter-professional team in a coordinated, continually-updated care plan, that encompasses all care settings in which the client receives care.

Coalition Recent Activities:

Compassionate Care Act Briefing Note (Fall 2021):

The Compassionate Care Act was passed into law in 2020. The Coalition prepared a Briefing Note to government as part of the consultation process. Several Coalition members also contributed to the development of this policy by presenting before the legislature to share information and reinforce the joint Coalition recommendations. Part of the Act is the development of a Provincial Framework to ensure that every Ontarian has access to quality palliative care, and the Coalition has an active role in developing recommendations and practical solutions to incorporate into the Framework.

Declaration Of Partnership And Commitment To Action 10-Year Review (December 2021):

The Coalition undertook a 10-year review of the Declaration of Partnership and Commitment to Action to inform and refresh the report recommendations. The Review Report summarized activities and advancements over the past 10 years, identified ongoing gaps and provided updated recommendations for the next 10 years (2021-2031). It also supported and aligned with the development of a provincial palliative care framework as commissioned in the Compassionate Care Act.

Patient And Caregiver Bills Of Rights (2019-Present):

In 2018, the Coalition established a working group to address the Declaration’s recommendation that a “patient/client” and a caregiver bill of rights be developed. After extensive research, consultations and revisions, two final declarations were produced, and in 2019 it was formally endorsed and adopted by the Coalition membership along with their Board of Directors. The Coalition continues to work on an implementation and communication strategy to promote and embed the Patient and Caregiver Bills of Rights across Ontario.

For more information, please contact Julie Darnay, [email protected].

Provincial Hospice Palliative Care Review Documents

Coalition Documents

Hospice Palliative Care Facts

Please view the 2020 CHPCA Fact Sheet for facts about the current state of hospice palliative care in Canada.
The Quality Hospice Palliative Care Coalition of Ontario (QHPCCO) is the provincial body to the National Quality End of Life Care Coalition of Canada (QEOLCC)