Submitted by PeaceHealth
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation in collaboration with PeaceHealth this week announced plans to restore an enhanced outpatient palliative (OPPC) care program to serve the citizens of Whatcom County.
“The community feedback has been loud and clear since PeaceHealth’s May announcement to reduce comprehensive palliative care services. On behalf of the Foundation Board and PeaceHealth, we want you to know that we are listening,” said Dr. Jason M. Stoane, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation Board president. “With mutual appreciation, the Foundation and PeaceHealth have listened to each other and now understand the collective concerns and the need for a more comprehensive, sustainable and scalable outpatient palliative care program.”
As the chief executive of PeaceHealth Medical Group, Dr. Scott Foster was asked to take a leadership role in working with the Foundation to conduct a comprehensive review of the service offering under the prior palliative care model. This review revealed several opportunities for improvement, and a proposed model emerged through collaboration between PeaceHealth Medical Group, the local palliative care team, and the Foundation. Crucially, this new model has been designed with sustainability in mind and will serve more patients more efficiently, ensuring accessibility to both cancer and non-cancer referrals.
Approved by the Foundation Board on Aug. 29, the proposed model envisions the OPPC service operating out of PeaceHealth’s cancer center building, where 65% of historic referrals originated. While some home-based care will be available, clinic-based care will be the primary focus, bolstered by a dedicated interdisciplinary team under the medical direction of Dr. Angie Lee, a palliative care specialist. Closer alignment with existing PeaceHealth services, such as home health, hospice, and ambulatory care management, aims to holistically provide more comprehensive care that addresses patients’ needs. ?PeaceHealth is actively hiring and assembling the team with plans to fully launch the new program in early 2024, pending recruitment.
“PeaceHealth’s decision around the previous OPPC program was made with urgency and without fully consulting PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation and other key PeaceHealth and community stakeholders,” said Dr. Foster. “This was a regrettable oversight, and PeaceHealth apologizes for the angst this caused.”
“The PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation values its long history and sacred relationship with this community,” said Donna Inglis, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation Board vice president. “We look forward to demonstrating that PeaceHealth is committed to its mission to improve the health and lives of the people of Whatcom County.”
Moving forward, PeaceHealth is committed to continued dialogue and a transparent and collaborative partnership with the Foundation and the community on this and other important issues impacting the people of Bellingham and Whatcom County.
