October 20th
I am in Winnipeg attending the CHPCA conference. It is a treat to rub shoulders with such a wonderful group of individuals who are so passionate about providing excellent care for the dying.
Our booth for Life and Death Matters is located next to Canadian Virtual Hospice (CVH). This is one of “Canada’s gems!” CVH provides resources for patients, family caregivers and professionals. Their website is rich with information, previously asked questions and answers, and links to relevant sites. Perhaps most important, they are available to respond to questions – and usually respond within 24-48 hours!
The team includes Clinical Nurse Specialists, Brenda, Lisa and Simone (wonderful women!), the physician Mike Harlos (a gem of a man!), and the social worker Fred Nelson (I think he works nights as a comedian). They divide their time between clinical work and providing support online.
They respond to questions using language that is easy to understand with answers that are grounded in best practice.
CVH has pamphlets, book marks, and trinkets to advertise their service. I love to hand these out during workshops, but think they would also be a useful handout to make available on hospice units, hospital wards, etc..
Be sure to check out the CVH website, mark it as a favorite and pass it along!
www.virtualhospice.ca
Kath
