CMA collaborates with Pallium Canada to accelerate and enhance palliative care training for health workers

OTTAWA, April 17, 2020 /CNW/ - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is pleased to announce a multi-year investment of $500,000 to increase palliative care training during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. While health care teams are working tirelessly to keep Canadians safe throughout the pandemic, the demand for palliative and end-of-life care is increasing. To support physicians and other health care workers in this area, the CMA is collaborating with Pallium Canada (Pallium) to provide free online access to their training modules, along with other resources.

With the CMA's investment, online modules from Pallium's Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP) are now available to all health care professionals in Canada, free of charge. These modules will enable physicians and other front-line health care workers to quickly acquire the skills and knowledge required in delivering palliative care – including learning about the social, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of patients.

"Under normal circumstances, a patient's palliative care needs would be addressed by an interprofessional palliative care team made up of physicians, nurses, social workers and spiritual care workers," says Dr. Sandy Buchman, CMA president. "With the current strain on our health care system, we need to make sure our health care workers can gain this knowledge to better support their patients during COVID-19 and beyond."

"We're very appreciative of the CMA's support, as this program contributes to professional excellence and patient-centred care", says Jeffrey Moat, CEO of Pallium. "Reducing the burden of illness on patients and their caregivers, and relieving their suffering where possible, is more important than ever."

Since 2000, Pallium has been building health care capacity by equipping health care professionals working in different settings and areas with essential skills and knowledge on the palliative care approach. Since 2014, more than 28,000 health care professionals have been trained on LEAP.

About Pallium Canada
Pallium is a national, non-profit organization focused on building professional and community capacity to help improve the quality and accessibility of palliative care in Canada.

About the CMA
Since 1867, the Canadian Medical Association has been the national voice of Canada's medical profession. We work with physicians, residents and medical students on issues that matter to the profession and the health of Canadians. We advocate for policy and programs that drive meaningful change for physicians and their patients.

SOURCE Canadian Medical Association

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