Mission
To promote the highest quality of life for Veterans, Military, First Responders and community patients facing the final stage of a terminal illness. With expertise in pain and symptom management, compassionate, holistic care is provided through the skills of our interprofessional team, and through innovative research and eduction.
Vision
McDermott House Canada will be the touchstone of excellence in palliative care in Canada.
Palliative Care
The heart of palliative care is compassion. Working from a holistic perspective, the palliative care team offers comfort and care to enrich the quality of life for those who are at the end stage of a terminal illness. Palliative care provides a broad range of services to address the individual needs of patients and their significant others.
The professionals and volunteers on the palliative care team have a special sensitivity and training. They are committed to addressing the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones.
Goals for McDermott House Canada
- To provide pain and symptom management.
- To offer emotional, social and spiritual care to patients and their loved ones, while respecting diverse cultures, values and beliefs.
- To create an environment that enables the patient and family members to make informed choices and to develop the best possible plan for care.
- To provide the optimum quality of life for patients and their loved ones.
We envision single rooms with additional accommodation for the family member who wishes to stay overnight. All rooms will have their own private washrooms. Enhanced amenities for the rooms will be determined as the project unfolds.
Many families try to find a balance between being at the hospital and trying to attend to work or at-home responsibilities. To assist with this, an office space will be created for individuals to access a computer, printer, phone and webcam. These tools will also enable patients and their family members to not only connect with relatives and loved ones who live out of the country but also to facilitate communication and closure via technology.
We also plan to create a space that could be used for social gatherings. Often, families are unable to take their loved ones out of the facility and therefore ask for space to celebrate birthdays and other significant events.
The overall environment created will be a warm, home-like space that will provide the optimum quality of care for patients and their families.
Counseling
The interprofessional team will be available for patients and their families should they require counseling and psychosocial support during their stay in the McDermott House Canada Palliative Care Unit.
Setting
The Unit will be located on the first floor of K Wing. Nestled among tall pine trees, the unit overlooks nature from large picture windows.