January 11, 2016
Tracy Lynn Wityk Martin, left, and Michelle Peterson Fraser, both members of the provincial Palliative and End of Life Care team for AHS, share the podium at a recent education and research conference.
Story by: Gregory Kennedy
Few of us like to dwell on how we’ll die, but for the Palliative and End-of-Life Care (PEOLC) team, thinking daily about how to help patients and families through life’s final transition is rewarding work that brings comfort and care to Albertans across the province.
As a founding member of this provincial team since 2013, Michelle Peterson Fraser — a Senior Consultant in PEOLC with Community, Seniors, Addiction & Mental Health for Alberta Health Services (AHS) — has witnessed its growth from a steering committee to a vibrant multidisciplinary body that also reaches deep into communities for ideas and feedback.
“One of the things we’re very proud of is that we have three patient and family representatives who sit on our steering committee,” says Fraser, “and we also have patients and families taking part in our working groups — so we’re really reaching out to the grassroots.”
In its first few years, the team is already making a difference.
For example, its EMS PEOLC Assess, Treat and Refer (ATR) program brings emergency care to PEOLC patients in their own homes.
“When an end-of-life patient is having a palliative emergency in the home”, adds Fraser, “EMS will come to the home without lights or sirens, and collaborate with the clinician to relieve the symptoms of the patient and treat the patient at home, if that’s what they desire.”
As well, its new PEOLC website offers palliative resources for patients, families, communities and health professionals.
“We’ve also developed a bereavement directory so that if you’re in a remote area in the province, you can click on it and see what supports and services are available,” says Fraser.
“And we’re also developing a provincial bereavement package that will be available at the time of death so that families who have lost a loved one have resources and information available to them if they need it.”
Tapping the minds of experts across the province, the team is also working on ways to plan for additional capacity for palliative homecare, hospice care and palliative beds in acute care facilities. As well, the PEOLC team supports education and research.
“We’re also working on a provincial guideline for patients who have died in the home, so there will be consistent practice across Alberta.”
Fraser herself personally benefited from her team’s work when someone close to her was recently diagnosed with a palliative condition.
“I was able to click on our own website and find her the resources for palliative home care,” she says. “It’s definitely needed.”
Fraser’s teammates, largely drawn from AHS Community, Seniors, Addiction & Mental Health, include: Dr. James L. Silvius (Provincial Medical Director, Seniors Health, also Senior Medical Director, Seniors Strategic Clinical Network); Barbara O’Neill (Senior Provincial Director, Cancer SCN & Critical Care SCN); Max Jajszczok (Executive Director, Provincial Continuing Care, Community, Seniors, Addictions & Mental Health); Sharon Iversen (Lead, Advance Care Planning/Goals of Care Designation and Lead, Bereavement project); Tracy Lynn Wityk Martin (Program Lead, PEOLC); Cheryl Cameron (Lead, EMS PEOLC ATR program); Aurora Leang (Project Coordinator, PEOLC); and De Leeming (Admin Support, PEOLC).
Echoing her colleagues, Fraser says she finds her work meaningful and satisfying:
“I used to be director of care at a hospice, and I personally find it very rewarding to now be able to help large numbers of people on a provincial level.”
