Published: April 2002
The Pain and Symptom Management/ Palliative Care Program (PSMPC) at the BC Cancer Agency was brought into being in 1998, after much consultation with the community of palliative care providers in the province, and stakeholders within the Agency. In planning for this program, considerations concerning fit, both within the Agency and with partnering community palliative care providers, has been paramount.
Mission
The purpose of the BC Cancer Agency PSMPC Program is to improve the quality of life for individuals and their caregivers living with cancer. This will be accomplished in collaboration with other palliative care partners through:
- provision of seamless pain and symptom management and palliative support throughout the cancer journey;
- advancement of knowledge; and
- transformation of knowledge into best practice.
Vision
Within the BC Cancer Agency vision, the PSMPC Program will be a leader in promoting and providing palliative support and symptom management that meets the needs of persons affected by cancer wherever they are in the continuum of care and regardless of the goals of therapy.
Those we serve, and our partners in the community, will look to the PSMPC Program for:
- laying the groundwork for end of life decision-making throughout the patient and family cancer experience;
- leadership in advancing and disseminating knowledge through a program of research and education; and
- defining and applying the standards by which pain and symptom management for cancer patients is measured (2000).
A provincial program structure exists to coordinate and facilitate palliative care work and interests, at the same time as preserving the community-oriented flavour of each of the four (soon to be five) Regional Cancer Centres.