It is important to form a planning team that represents the hospital's environment. This will help ensure that the program meets the needs of patients and reflects the hospital’s culture.

The planning team is responsible for:

• Assessing the needs of patients
• Evaluating existing resources and service gaps
• Defining the type and scope of palliative care program they can support and
• Developing an appropriate administrative and clinical structure for the program.

Strong team members are vital to the success of a palliative care program. Team members may include the following:

• Medical Staff Leader
• Nursing Leader
• Medical Social Worker
• Pain Management Specialist
• Senior Administrator

Depending on the hospital, other team members may play an important role during planning. They include:

• Nurse Manager
• Clinical Pharmacist
• Nutritionist
• Other Key Stakeholders