Evidence demonstrates that palliative care programs consistently reduce symptom distress and improve patient and family satisfaction. Palliative care programs can also alleviate overcrowding and bed shortages and inappropriate use of intensive care unit beds. In collaboration with the Safety Net Institute and UCSF’s Palliative Care Leadership Center (PCLC), the California HealthCare Foundation grant has launched a $2.5 million, 3½ year project to establish palliative care programs in two-thirds of California public hospitals by 2011. To achieve this goal, the program, Spreading Palliative Care in California’s Public Hospitals, offers three levels of grant funding and support that meet hospital systems where they are in their readiness to implement or expand a palliative care program. The three levels of support include:
- Planning Grants: In 2008, eight county hospitals were selected through an RFA process to receive $30,000 planning grants. As part of the planning grant, recipients receive training at UCSF’s Palliative Care Leadership Center (PCLC) and support in designing a palliative care program.
- Implementation Grants: By June 2009, up to five public hospitals will be selected through an RFP process to receive implementation grants of up to $250,000 to establish a palliative care service over a two-year period.
- Expansion Grants: By June 2009, up to three expansion grants will be awarded to public hospitals with existing palliative care programs, with awards up to $75,000.
Additional program goals are to provide models for culturally competent palliative care services and to develop a business case specific to the public hospital financial and operational environment.
For more information, contact Wendy Jameson.