COMOX VALLEY- Clients in need of community hospice care will continue to access this service at Hospice at The Views until a new, purpose-built hospice space is ready for occupancy in 2020.
A steering committee made up of local stakeholders was established last year to consider all potential options for an interim relocation while development occurred on a permanent location. After careful consideration of the benefits and challenges of each interim relocation option, the steering committee unanimously recommended to Island Health that the four hospice beds continue to operate at Hospice at The Views at this time.
“Island Health supports the steering committee’s recommendation that will ensure the established hospice program remains intact in the short-term and transition smoothly to a new specially designed facility in the future,” said Norm Peters, Island Health’s Executive Director, Surgery, Residential Care and End of Life. “We would like to thank members of the steering committee for all of the work and time they committed to this process.”
In March 2018, Island Health issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking up to 151 complex care beds by 2020 from one or more providers for the Comox Valley. At that time, Island Health announced the four hospice beds currently located at The Views, along with an additional two new hospice beds, will be relocated with the long-term care provider identified through the RFP process where clients can access the full spectrum of end-of-life care, including Medical Assistance in Dying.
The Steering Committee membership included representatives from the Comox Valley Hospice Society, a local physician and members of the community.
Options considered were temporarily relocating the community hospice beds to an existing residential care facility located in the Comox Valley, temporarily relocating the hospice beds to the North Island Hospital Comox Valley campus and continuing operation of the hospice beds at The Views until a permanent new location is determined.
The Comox Valley Hospice Society is appreciative of the opportunity for community involvement provided by Island Health to consider potential interim locations for the community hospice beds,” said Paula Horky, Comox Valley Hospice Society President. “Following careful consideration of all the potential options, keeping the hospice beds at The Views until the new and permanent location is completed is the best option for supporting people who are dying, grieving and caregiving in the community. The CVHS will continue to work with staff at Hospice at The Views and Island Health to ensure each person receives the compassionate hospice palliative care that matters most to them.”
Island Health’s End of Life program, the Comox Valley Hospice Society and St. Joseph’s have established a patient-centered compassionate transfer process for patients requesting MAiD.
“We support choice for the residents of the Comox Valley and value a diversity of operators in the long term care sector,” said Peters. “The Views has been an excellent partner in residential and hospice care in the Comox Valley, and we thank the staff there for their continued dedication to residents and families.”
Background
Last fall a Steering Committee that included the Comox Valley Hospice Society, a local physician and community members was established to consider potential interim options for the relocation of the four community hospice beds currently located at The Views, a residential care facility owned and operated by St. Joseph’s.
Following careful consideration of the all potential options, the Steering Committee unanimously recommended to Island Health that the community hospice beds remain at Hospice at The Views until the new, purpose-built location is ready for occupancy in 2020.
Options considered included:
- Interim relocation of the four community hospice beds to another complex care location in Comox Valley
- Interim relocation of the four community hospice beds to the North Island Hospital, Comox Valley Campus
- Continue to operate the four community hospice beds at Hospice at the Views in the interim until the new purpose-built location is ready for occupancy in 2020.
In making its decision, the Steering committee considered the following:
- Of the three potential interim options, which option best supports clients who need community hospice care, their families and their caregivers
- Some interim locations can offer the full range of End of Life services, including Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
- Time and financial costs associated with creating an appropriate interim location
- Time and costs associated with new clinical staff training and education to create the necessary program of care at an interim location
- Potential for temporary loss of residential care capacity during the interim period
- Potential for disruption to clients, staff and established hospice program and philosophy
- Disruption to clients, staff, families and caregivers associated with relocating the community hospice beds twice in an approximate two year time frame
- Public transportation options and driving distance to some existing residential care sites in terms of timely physician and family access
Island Health supports the Steering Committee’s recommendation that the community hospice beds remain at The Views on an interim basis. St. Joseph’s has been an excellent partner in care in the Comox Valley and we look forward to a continued relationship with St. Joe’s and the Comox Valley Hospice Society in delivering community hospice care until the new purpose-built location is completed.
Island Health provides health care and support services to more than 767,000 people on Vancouver Island, the islands in the Salish Sea and the Johnstone Strait, and mainland communities north of Powell River.
Media Inquiries:
Cheryl Bloxham
250-370-8878
Cheryl.bloxham@islandhealth.ca