Pallium Canada is leading the development of a Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care to map out existing strengths, areas of excellence, and gaps in palliative care services across Canada.
Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care
Building a national palliative care atlas
Canadians continue to experience challenges in accessing palliative care when and where they need it. These challenges are intensified by an aging population and ongoing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on programs and services related to palliative care.
Currently, no mechanism exists to consolidate nationwide data on palliative care service availability. As such, significant variations exist across Canada in many areas of palliative care, from team access to service integration and education.
Mapping out the current state of palliative care in Canada
Dr. Joshua Shadd — Pallium Canada Research Hub is leading the development of the Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care, which will map out the current state of palliative care service availability in Canada, including existing strengths, areas of excellence, and gaps. The Atlas will showcase a graphical representation of the status of palliative care in Canada and serve to advance a systems-thinking approach to health care by identifying several benchmarks of excellence and leadership.
NEW - Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care: British Columbia Edition
Pallium Canada, with support from the Division of Palliative Care at McMaster University and the BC Centre for Palliative Care, has launched the British Columbia Edition of the Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care! This unique Canadian resource provides a comprehensive, data-driven snapshot of the status of palliative care in British Columbia.
A catalyst for change
Atlases have proven to be powerful and transformative tools for understanding and improving palliative care systems worldwide. By offering both graphical and textual insights into the state of palliative care in a jurisdiction, they highlight areas of excellence and identify opportunities for improvement. Developed across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and South America, these Atlases have set a precedent for leveraging data to drive improvements in care.
However, Canada has faced significant challenges due to the absence of comprehensive and reliable data on palliative care. Without a comprehensive view of the current landscape, it is challenging to effectively address needs and identify areas for improvement.
The Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care will address this crucial gap by:
Describing and visually representing the state of palliative care at regional, provincial/territorial, and national levels.
Raising awareness about specific populations needing focused attention, including children, individuals experiencing homelessness, recent immigrants and refugees, LGBTQSIA+ communities, and others.
Comparing palliative care availability across various domains provincially/territorially, nationally, and internationally.
Facilitating the integration of palliative care across health systems by identifying and addressing successes and potential gaps.
The Provincial Atlases
Work is underway on the development of the provincial editions of the Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care.
NEW: British Columbia
The British Columbia Edition of the Atlas consolidates provincial and regional level data into an interactive resource, providing a comprehensive view of palliative care across British Columbia.
Ontario
The Ontario Edition of the Atlas will map out the availability of palliative care in Ontario. Initial pilot study results are now available.
Alberta
The Alberta Edition of the Atlas will map out the availability of palliative care in Alberta. This initiative is expected to launch in 2025.
The Impact
The Atlas will serve as a catalyst for change, helping funders, policymakers, the media, health care analysts, health care planners, educators and the community improve their understanding of palliative care systems and forms the foundation for ongoing efforts to ultimately provide timelier, more effective, and compassionate palliative care.
The British Columbia Palliative Care Atlas is a transformative resource. It provides British Columbia’s political decision-makers, health care providers, and community leaders with the vital data and insights required to drive lasting change and advance equitable access to palliative care for everyone, no matter where they live. This is a historic moment in our journey to ensure that every British Columbian receives the compassionate, high-quality palliative care they deserve.
Jeff Moat
CEO, Pallium Canada
The absence of a singular reporting source or comprehensive data repository has left a significant gap in our understanding of palliative care in Canada. Pallium Canada and Cardus’ initiative to develop the Palliative Care Atlas for Ontario is a critical step towards mapping access to palliative care services across different care settings and patient populations. This work is not only necessary but pivotal for enhancing the delivery of palliative care across the province.
Leonie Herx MD PhD CHE CCFP(PC) FCFP
Palliative Medicine Consultant Physician
Discover more about our impact
Interested in learning how Pallium Canada is making a difference beyond the Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care? Explore Our Impact page to see how our initiatives are transforming palliative care across Canada.
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