Pallium Canada is leading the development of a Canadian Palliative Care Atlas to map out existing strengths, areas of excellence, and gaps in palliative care services across Canada.
Canadian Palliative Care Atlas
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 Palliative Care Atlas, 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 - Pilot Study: Central East - Ontario Subregion
The completed pilot study mapping the current state of palliative care in the Central East subregion in Ontario provides a tangible preview of the Canadian Atlas’s transformative potential. More than an assessment, it’s a catalyst for a future where universal, quality end-of-life care becomes a reality.
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 Palliative Care Atlas 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 Palliative Care Atlas.
Ontario
The Ontario Edition of the Atlas will map out the availability of palliative care in Ontario. Initial pilot study results are now available.
British Columbia
The British Columbia Edition of the Atlas will map out the availability of palliative care in British Columbia. This initiative is expected to launch in 2025.
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.
Far too many individuals still lack timely access to palliative care, and for those who do, it often comes very late, only in the final days and weeks of life. With the Palliative Care Atlas, we aim to equip policymakers, administrators, and healthcare leaders with a foundational assessment of palliative care’s current status across health regions. This is a crucial step towards informed decision-making for the integration and advancement of palliative care within our healthcare systems.
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
Accurate data is the cornerstone of effective decision-making. This tool will inform the Ontario government and enable them to ensure they meet their commitments, ensuring that every Ontarian who needs palliative care has better access to high quality services.
Ray Pennings
Executive Vice President, Cardus
Discover more about our impact
Interested in learning how Pallium Canada is making a difference beyond the Canadian Palliative Care Atlas? Explore Our Impact page to see how our initiatives are transforming palliative care across Canada.
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