Our interdisciplinary palliative care team provides a wide range of expertise to care for and support patients and families, according to their needs.
Palliative care doctors
Specialized nurses
The oncology pivot nurses and palliative care consultant nurse are an important resource for patients with serious illnesses and their families. The pivot nurses provide disease and treatment education, advise on symptom management, and respond to questions and concerns between medical appointments. They also refer patients to other members of the healthcare team or external services as needed, help patients and families navigate the healthcare system, and ensure continuity of care with the rest of the healthcare team. The palliative care consultant nurse works to extend palliative care access to patients in the hospital and to support patients, loved ones, and the healthcare teams in delivering high quality palliative care.
Support team
The palliative care team also includes the following support and resources.
Nurses
Our nurses include staff in the treatment room and on 5 main. They provide direct patient care and carry out a variety of duties, including administering medications, drawing blood and providing personal care. They are the first point of contact when a problem arises and their compassionate care supports patients throughout their illness, as well as their families.
Personal care workers
Personal care workers (also known as préposés) provide personal care for those who need help while hospitalized. Care services typically include helping patients walk if they have mobility issues, as well as assisting with daily personal tasks, such as washing, dressing and eating. Personal care workers provide essential care to patients who are losing their autonomy.
Spiritual care providers
Spiritual care providers offer patients and their families support and counselling for spiritual needs and concerns. Spirituality is often described as the essence of being human. It is a search for meaning and purpose, and for a connection to others and to something greater than ourselves. Our spirituality forms the basis of our relationships, our values, our work, and everything we consider meaningful in life. Spiritual care providers help patients identify personal sources of strength, meaning and hope as they cope with illness. They help patients explore some of life’s most difficult questions: Why is this happening to me? How will this affect my family? How do I prepare for death? How would I like to be remembered? Spiritual care providers also help facilitate requests for religious rites or rituals if this is important to patients and their families; however, spiritual care is available to everyone regardless of belief system.
Occupational therapist
The occupational therapist helps patients with physical limitations, mobility issues or cognitive problems adapt to their limitations and environment, and function as independently as possible in everyday life. In palliative care specifically, the occupational therapist suggests ways to accomplish activities more easily, depending on individual needs. The occupational therapist also works with the patient’s family and community partners to ensure a safe return home. This includes requesting services, instructing on the use of adaptive equipment and helping position devices in order to maintain the patient’s comfort in their home environment.
Pharmacist
In addition to filling prescriptions and preparing drug therapies, such as chemotherapy, the hospital pharmacist works with the doctors to ensure that prescribed medications meet patient needs and are used appropriately. The pharmacist can also adjust the dose, formulation or regimen of a medication to prevent drug-related problems, such as side effects. The pharmacist is an important resource for patients for drug education, and can provide helpful information regarding symptom control, side effects, and how the drug works.
Physiotherapist
The physiotherapist specializes in treating a wide variety of physical problems associated with illness that affect physical capabilities. This includes: mobility and pain issues affecting the muscles, bones, joints and spine; movement problems related to health conditions; breathing difficulties resulting from lung diseases; and circulation problems. Techniques, such as manual therapy and exercise, are used to relieve pain and stiffness, and improve movement, strength and mobility.
Massage therapist
In collaboration with the care team, the massage therapist uses gentle and light massage techniques to provide relief for a variety of issues, such as muscle stiffness and pain, depending on the patient’s needs. Massage therapy can help relax and soothe the body, and the mind, and helps promote overall comfort and wellbeing. Massage therapy may also help relieve certain treatment-related side effects.
Couple and family counsellor
The couple and family counsellor specializes in concerns and problems in the relationships of couples and families. The counsellor works together with patients and their partners and/or family members to help them identify and understand their issues, and recommends ways to improve communication and strengthen relationships.
Dietitian/Nutritionist
The dietitian works with patients to develop an individualized nutrition plan to help improve their quality of life. In developing a plan, the dietitian takes into account nutritional problems, such as poor appetite, nausea, taste changes, difficulty chewing/swallowing and diarrhea/constipation.
Psychologist
The psychologist supports patients who are experiencing psychological distress or difficulties. Psychological interventions can help with a wide range of personal and emotional issues, including adapting to living with a serious illness, anxiety, fear, depression, sadness and anger. Patients also often struggle with feeling a loss of dignity and control, and that they are a burden to their family and friends. The psychologist can help patients understand and manage these emotions, and help prevent them from becoming overwhelming.
Social worker
The social worker provides support for a wide variety of practical and personal issues, depending on the needs of the patient. The social worker can help patients understand and navigate the hospital and healthcare systems, and refer them to government and community resources that may be available. The social worker can also support and assist patients with discharge planning from the inpatient unit.
Music therapist
Together, the music therapist and patient explore meaningful ways to use music to improve the patient’s overall sense of wellbeing. Music can be used to investigate emotions, feelings and spirituality; encourage self expression; increase energy and motivation; and relieve symptoms such as anxiety, sleep problems and breathing difficulties.
Volunteer coordinator
The volunteer coordinator organizes our dedicated group of volunteers to provide patients with assistance and comfort in the outpatient clinic and when hospitalized.