15 Hospitals and Cancer Centers Receive $10,000 Grants for Joint Commission Advanced Certification from the LIVESTRONG Foundation
Center to Advance Palliative Care to Provide Tools and Training
Fifteen new sites for the Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification for Palliative Care were announced as beneficiaries of the LIVESTRONG® Community Impact Project. These organizations will be awarded $10,000 each to implement the certification program in cities across the U.S. Advanced Certification for Palliative Care is one of four proven cancer support programs included in the 2013 Community Impact Project created by the LIVESTRONG Foundation, a top-rated non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by cancer today. Nearly 200 qualified hospitals, cancer centers, university students, and community organizations in eight regions across the U.S. were selected to participate in the online voting campaign that determined the award recipients.
“Approximately 90 million Americans are living with serious and life-threatening illnesses, including cancer. This number is expected to more than double over the next 25 years with the aging of the baby boomers. Yet, studies show that most people living with a serious illness experience inadequately treated symptoms; fragmented care; poor communication with their doctors; and enormous strains on their family caregivers,” said Diane E. Meier, MD, Director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care.
“Palliative care was developed in response to these inadequacies. Every cancer patient, from the day of diagnosis, has palliative care needs. Palliative care integrated into cancer care has been shown to improve physical and psychological symptoms, improve family caregiver well-being, and even prolong survival. The LIVESTRONG Community Impact Project not only meaningfully engages the public, but provides a chance for palliative care teams across the country to demonstrate the highest quality patient and family-centered care for members of their community living with cancer.”
“We are so appreciative of everyone who took action to bring the Community Impact Project to their communities,” said Doug Ulman, Foundation president and CEO. “The LIVESTRONG Foundation fights to improve the lives of people affected by cancer today, and by immediately implementing these proven programs that provide critical emotional and physical support to those facing cancer, we are helping more people live life on their own terms. We take great pride in this opportunity to advance our mission.” The Joint Commission's Advanced Certification for Palliative Care is designed to set standards and acknowledge hospitals providing state-of-the-art palliative care services that relieve symptoms and stress of serious illness and improve quality of life for patients and families. The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) will provide tools and training to 15 hospitals and cancer centers across the country to assist in their efforts to qualify for the certification.
In addition to the money, the chosen programs will also receive a toolkit consisting of facilitator manuals, participant materials and evaluation forms; training and support from the model program’s staff; access to additional tools and resources; and a full report on the historical replication of this program upon completion.
Advanced Certification for Palliative Care finalists for the Community Impact Project were determined through an online voting campaign that accumulated more than the 200,000 votes over a two-week period (March 12-28). Finalists for the awards were determined by individual votes within each region. The 2013 Advanced Certification for Palliative Care recipients are:
- Providence Little Company of Mary – Torrance, Calif.
- University of Colorado Hospital – Aurora, Colo.
- University of Connecticut Health Center – Farmington, Conn.
- Shands Jacksonville Medical Center – Jacksonville, Fla.
- Kapi’olani Medical Center – Honolulu, Hawaii
- Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital – Lake Forest, Ill.
- Beaumont-Royal Oak – Royal Oak, Mich.
- Batson Children’s Hospital – Jackson, Miss.
- Sanford Health Fargo – Fargo, N.D.
- Hunterdon Palliative Care – Flemington, N.J.
- Elmhurst Hospital Center – Elmhurst, N.Y.
- Mercy Hospital Ardmore – Ardmore, Okla.
- Lancaster General Hospital – Lancaster, Pa.
- Bon Secours Richmond Health System – Richmond, Va.
- Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, Wash.
About The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)
The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) provides healthcare professionals with the tools, training, and technical assistance necessary to start and sustain successful palliative care programs in hospitals and other health care settings. Located at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, CAPC is a national organization dedicated to increasing the availability of quality palliative care services for people facing serious illness. www.capc.org.
About the LIVESTRONG Foundation
The LIVESTRONG Foundation provides free cancer support services to help people cope with the financial, emotional and practical challenges that accompany the disease. Created in 1997 by cancer survivor and philanthropist Lance Armstrong, the Foundation is known for its powerful brand – LIVESTRONG – and for its advocacy on behalf of survivors and their families. With its iconic yellow LIVESTRONG wristband, the Foundation has become a symbol of hope and inspiration around the world. Since its inception, the Foundation has served 2.5 million people affected by the disease and raised more than $500 million to support cancer survivors. One of America’s top cancer non-profit organizations, the Foundation enjoys a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and has been recognized by the National Health Council and the Better Business Bureau for its excellent governance, high standards and transparency. For more information, visit LIVESTRONG.org.
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Lesley Snyder, Center to Advance Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 212.201.2682 or [email protected].