Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO)

Advance Your Skills with Complimentary Palliative Care Education

HPCO — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 18:55:46 +0000

Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) is offering complimentary online training for Ontario-based healthcare providers and administrators working in community settings, including long-term care. Enhance your ability to provide person-centered, compassionate care with two educational opportunities:

Palliative Care Education for Personal Support Workers (PACE for PSWs)
A comprehensive national certificate program to strengthen palliative care skills and reduce workplace stress.
Person-Centered Decision Making (PCDM)
A focused program to enhance clinical skills and competencies for health care planning and end of life conversations.

Both courses are available online and must be completed by March 31, 2026. Spaces are limited – apply now by completing an Expression of Interest. Applications must be received and approved prior to beginning the education to qualify for complimentary tuition.

Palliative Care Education for Personal Support Workers (PACE for PSWs)

This 30-hour, 10-course online certificate program equips PSWs with the knowledge and skills to:

Communicate compassionately with patients and families
Manage workplace stress and reduce compassion fatigue
Support the comfort and dignity of patients in their final days

Ontario-based Personal Support Workers, clinicians and administrators are eligible to apply. Available in English and French. For more about the PACE program, visit: paceforpsws.ca

APPLY NOW by completing an Expression of Interest for PACE

Funding to support backfill costs is available to organizations when their approved PSWs complete and pass the full 10-course PACE for PSWs program by March 31, 2025. Backfill is paid at $900 (flat rate) per approved PSW. Only organizations are able apply for backfill – individual PSWs cannot apply for backfill without permission from their employers.

Person-Centered Decision Making (PCDM)

This 8-hour online course empowers clinicians and administrators to confidently lead conversations about:

Health Care Consent
Advance Care Planning
Goals of Care

Learners develop clinical skills to provide better support to patients and families during critical decisions. Ontario-based clinicians and administrators are eligible to apply. Available in English.

APPLY NOW by completing an Expression of Interest for PCDM

Have a question? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions or email learning@hpco.ca

Funding for this education is provided by Ontario Health.

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Sex and gender in palliative and end-of-life care: A service evaluation and qualitative analysis

HPCO — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 10:00:58 +0000

This study explored how sex and gender affect palliative and end-of-life care in the UK. Researchers analyzed data from over 90,000 patients and spoke with hospice staff. They found few differences in care use between men and women, but staff reported that gender impacted experiences. Women were more often caregivers, and men sometimes delayed seeking help. Many records lacked information on gender identity, showing the need for better data collection. The study highlights the importance of respectful, person-centered care that considers gender, identity, culture, and other factors to ensure all individuals receive fair and supportive end-of-life care. Read more…

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The Surprise Question: Predictive Accuracy in an Unselected Emergency Department Population

HPCO — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:18:54 +0000

This prospective study evaluated the predictive accuracy of the Surprise Question (SQ)—“Would I be surprised if this patient died within 3 or 12 months?”—when answered by nurses and physicians in an emergency department (ED) setting. The goal was to see if this question could help predict which patients might die within a year. Over 1,900 patients were included. The results showed that the question was helpful, especially when predicting who might die within 12 months. Doctors were a little better at predicting than nurses, but when both agreed, their guesses were more accurate. The question worked best for older patients and those with medical problems. It didn’t work as well for younger people or patients with injuries. This simple question can help doctors and nurses think about who might need extra care or palliative care to make them more comfortable. It helps the hospital team plan better care for seriously ill patients. Read more…

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Patient Cues About End-of-Life Matters

HPCO — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:17:42 +0000

This study examines how patients in palliative care subtly raise end-of-life (EoL) concerns through ambiguous or allusive cues and how healthcare professionals (HCPs) respond. Using conversation analysis of 85 consultations, it identifies when cues are foregrounded (central to the conversation) or backgrounded (embedded in other topics). HCPs may respond accordingly or diverge, either avoiding or initiating EoL talk. The findings emphasize that the interactional context shapes cue interpretation and response, not merely the cue itself. The study offers practical guidance for HCPs to navigate sensitive EoL discussions based on the structure and placement of patient cues in conversation. Read more…

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Family Experiences, Needs, and Perceptions in Home-Based Hospice Care for Patients With Terminal Cancer

HPCO — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 15:16:18 +0000

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death globally, with rising incidence rates each year. Home-based hospice care allows patients with terminal cancer to spend their final days at home, encompassing scheduled visits, 24-hour on-call support, and symptom management. The overall aim of this study was to update and synthesize qualitative research on home-based hospice care based on the experiences of family caregivers of patients with cancer. Five full-text articles met the eligibility criteria for this meta-synthesis research. Five overarching analytical themes, and 2 central themes were identified, including (1) being physically and emotionally present and (2) sharing responsibilities. The 3 subthemes that support the main theme of “being physically and emotionally present” were a sense of togetherness, family responsibility, and being there until the end. Similarly, for the main theme of “sharing responsibilities”, the 2 subthemes included: formal support and informal support. Read more…

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The Use of Wearable Sensor Technology to Enhance Supportive Care in Hospitalized Palliative Patients

HPCO — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:14:59 +0000

This pilot study explored the feasibility of using wearable devices for continuous monitoring of vital signs in hospitalized palliative care patients. Out of 275 screened patients, only seven participated due to strict eligibility criteria. Wrist-worn devices provided valid data 61.5% of the time, while chest-wall devices achieved 55.2%. Heart rate and respiratory rate data were highly reliable, but oxygen saturation data performed poorly. Recruitment difficulties and device limitations led to premature termination of the study, as the target of 25 participants was unattainable. The study highlighted potential benefits but also significant challenges in implementation within this patient population. Read more…

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Managing Cultural Diversity in End of Life Care: A Qualitative Study

HPCO — Wed, 28 May 2025 15:13:30 +0000

In an increasingly globalized world, multiculturalism has transformed healthcare settings, making cultural diversity an essential component of care. Culture plays a central role in healthcare, delineating values, decisions, expectations, and practices. In the context of end-of-life care, awareness about how culture affects care and its professional practices becomes especially relevant. This study by Cáceres-Titos et al. (2025) aimed to explore the difficulties perceived by nursing professionals in palliative care when caring for culturally diverse patients. The analysis identified five main themes, including linguistic and communicative barriers that hinder trust-building between patients, families, and professionals. Cultural differences in beliefs, rituals, and expectations surrounding death were also noted. Challenges related to support networks, professional profiles, and workplace settings—such as insufficient training in cultural competence and the emotional impact of caring for culturally diverse patients at the end of life—were found to influence the quality of care provided. Read more…

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Palliative Talks: The Palliative Care Podcast Now Available!

HPCO — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:22:34 +0000

Host Kath Murray draws out practical tips and inspiring stories from palliative care experts in the Palliative Talks podcast. Guests share meaningful, engaging and useful information for integrating palliative care and a palliative approach to care, to support front-line care providers to make a big difference in the lives of those they care for, and for themselves and their care teams. Listen or watch now!

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Exploring older people’s end-of-life care preferences over time

HPCO — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:20:01 +0000

End-of-life care can involve complex decisions, and patients’ preferences are particularly important. Advance care planning is a process that enables individuals to define goals and preferences for future medical treatment and care, discuss these with family and healthcare providers, and record and review these preferences if appropriate. However, preferences are not always stable and fixed, especially in complex and changing situations. To further explore this, Robinson and colleagues (2025) conducted a scoping review to answer the question, ‘What is the nature of the current evidence about how and why the end-of-life care preferences of older people change over time?’ Research on preferences has largely overlooked older people’s preferences. To improve end-of-life care, prospective studies should explore how older people construct and negotiate a broader range of preferences over time, guiding patient reviews and care plans. Read more…

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Celebrating Hospice Palliative Care Champions on International Women’s Day

HPCO — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 14:26:59 +0000

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, honors the achievements of women across all aspects of life – social, economic, cultural, and political. In honour of International Women’s Day we at Hospice Palliative Care Ontario want to celebrate and highlight a few of the champions of hospice palliative care in Ontario, including:

Dr. Valerie Fiset, RN, Director, Champlain Hospice Palliative Care Program
Dipti Purbhoo, MHSc, RN, Executive Director, Dorothy Ley Hospice
Susan Blacker, MSW, RSW, Senior Director, Community Partnerships and Cancer and Palliative Program Performance at Sinai Health System and provincial clinical co-lead for the Ontario Palliative Care Network
Jennifer Wilson, AALP, ICD.D, Board Chair, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario

Dr. Valerie Fiset, RN

“Compassion is at the heart of who I am, and I have found having palliative care at the heart of my practice, regardless the role I am in, helps me to make a meaningful difference. Palliative care plays a vital role in improving the quality of life of those living with and dying from serious illness. Additionally, it is essential that those who provide palliative care feel valued and cared for and that they receive support to continue their vital work. I am committed to both the people who benefit from this care and the professionals who make it possible.”

Val is the Director of the Champlain Hospice Palliative Care Program. Prior to taking on this role Val worked in the post-secondary nursing education sector in both Professor and Academic Administrator roles. Val completed her BScN at Queen’s University, and MScN and PhD at the University of Ottawa. Val worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, palliative care, in Ottawa and Montreal, and has worked in a variety of other roles and settings during her over 30-year nursing career. Val is an avid Ottawa Charge and Redblacks fan and loves to canoe camp with her husband JP and her dog Bayley.

Dipti Purbhoo, MHSc, RN

“I feel fortunate to work in Hospice Palliative Care because it aligns with my belief that everyone deserves dignity at the end of life. This care is all about compassion, ensuring individuals and their families have comfort and support during this time. I am committed to finding new ways to make hospice services available to everyone who needs them. Hospice care enhances quality of life, fosters connections, and honors each person’s unique journey. It represents the care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones at the end of life.”

Executive Director of the Dorothy Ley Hospice, Dipti Purbhoo has a long tenure in healthcare and integrated care delivery. A registered nurse with over 20 years of experience in home and community healthcare, encompassing several roles. Dipti’s passion for quality care is at the cornerstone of her work.

Her expertise in healthcare is built on an accumulation of experiences in bedside care and administration. Dipti held the position of Chief Operating Officer at the former Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) – currently referred to Home and Community Care Support Services – for six years where she was responsible for the delivery of high-quality home and community care services.

Dipti has also worked to improve homecare and palliative care services for many years at the provincial, regional and community level. She is a creative and innovative leader who has implemented new models of care to improve the experiences of clients and caregivers alike. Most notably, she co-led the development and implementation of the Toronto Central Integrated Palliative Care program that won the Health Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Quality and Safety in 2014.

She is currently co-leading the Integrated Palliative Care Strategy with the Mississauga Ontario Health Team (OHT), a professional group working to implement a new integrated palliative care model for Mississauga.

Dipti holds a Master’s of Health Administration degree from the University of Toronto and a Master’s of Health Science degree in Nursing from McGill University.

Susan Blacker, MSW, RSW

“I am inspired daily by the holistic and compassionate care provided by hospice and palliative care teams. Palliative care providers are skillfully able to bear witness to fear, hope, courage, vulnerability, sadness, joy, loss and gratitude – sometimes all in the span of one conversation. What they do, and how they do it, makes all the difference.”

Susan is the Senior Director, Community Partnerships and Cancer and Palliative Program Performance at Sinai Health System in Toronto and has more than two decades of experience as a direct practice social worker, an educator and a program leader. She is also the provincial clinical co-lead for the Ontario Palliative Care Network.

Susan is internationally recognized for her work in advancing social work in palliative care and is dedicated to supporting the next generation of health care professionals in developing their knowledge and skills in providing palliative care. Susan holds an academic appointment at the University of Toronto as Adjunct Professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and as Lecturer (status only) in the Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine.

Jennifer Wilson, AALP, ICD.D

“A window over the entrance of our local hospital looks into the room where my grandmother died.

I look at that window and remember her death. She was a nurse who had with an abiding love for her family and her fellow nurses

Her death could have been better, the people who cared for her were kind but apologetic, they didn’t have time to do more for a fellow nurse.

One day I looked at that window and knew death is not a one time event, death has an echo.

Making death better helps everyone – the family and the providers.”

Jennifer Wilson is the current Board Chair of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario and a past director of Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation. She was the founding Board Chair for Chatham-Kent Hospice during their successful campaign to establish their 10-bed residential hospice. Jennifer was also inaugural Tri Board Chair at the Chatham Kent Health Alliance for a public hospital, a faith-based hospital, and a small rural hospital collaborative. Jennifer has served on over a dozen charitable Boards and held Chair roles for Regional Council Region 5 of the Ontario Hospital Association, YMCA across Southwestern Ontario, and the Tri-County Literacy Network. She also served on the YMCA Canada Board for two terms. Jennifer has received numerous awards for her community service including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. She has completed University of Toronto Rotman School of Management’s Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Education Program and successfully achieved ICD.D designation.

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