By 2025, only 20% of Canadians will die with an illness that has a recognizable terminal phase.

2/3 of Canadians will die with 2 or more chronic diseases and will live in a more frail and vulnerable state.

Because people's trajectories will be less predictable, many will not receive the benefits of palliative care because they are often not identified before they die*. It is important to change the approach and model of palliative care for earlier and better care.

*(Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Fact Sheet, 2012).

What is RPACE?

The Regional Palliative Approach to Care Education (RPACE) Team supports a palliative approach and early goals of care discussions in all areas of practice and communities of care in Vancouver Coastal Health. Below is our vision and we hope that after these modules you will be inspired to have early conversations with patients about what matters most to them.

We are shifting the culture across VCH to support the practice of an early palliative approach to care. We strive to achieve the benefits of communicating and respecting a patient’s goals, values and beliefs in all care decisions so that early conversations lead from foundational to exceptional care.

01. Introduction to a Palliative Approach and Patient Identification
02. Conversations, Documentation, and Sustainment