Committed to
Excellence in Palliative Care
Welcome to the Supportive
Care Coalition Web site. The
Supportive Care Coalition is
committed to excellence in
palliative care. The focus of our
efforts is assisting Catholic health
care organizations and their health
care professionals to address the
physical, emotional, psychosocial
and spiritual needs of those
suffering from life-threatening
and/or chronic illness as well as
those approaching the end of life.
We also advocate for cultural and
social policy changes so that all
patients can experience living well
until death.
Formed in 1994 as Supportive
Care of the Dying by six
visionary Catholic health care
organizations, Supportive
Care Coalition: Pursuing
Excellence in Palliative Care, has
grown to 19 member organizations
with health care facilities in 48
states. In 2006, the name was
changed to better reflect Coalition
palliative care
activities
that address the
continuum of living with
life-limiting illness from time of
diagnosis to end of life. We
know that by working together,
building on our Catholic traditions,
and sharing and creating leading
practices, we can enhance palliative
and end-of-life care.
- We are committed to bringing
about cultural change in the
care of those with chronic and
life-threatening illness.
- We are committed to
excellence in pain and symptom
management.
- We are committed to a
comprehensive, multidisciplinary
approach to understanding how
to bring relief of suffering
-- body, mind and spirit.
- We are committed to helping
patients live fully in
community.
Excellent palliative care does
not happen by accident. It
requires the expertise of
doctors, nurses, chaplains, social
workers, administrators and other
health
care professionals who understand chronic
and life-limiting illness and living
while dying processes, and who are
equipped to support the patient's
accompanying fears and discomforts.
It is also strengthened by
the instrumental participation of
family and friends who oftentimes
find themselves in the role of
caregiver, supporter and advocate.
Finally and most
importantly, excellent palliative
care is always patient- and
family-focused. It includes
supporting the bereaved.
Supportive Care Coalition members
work collaboratively to improve
end-of-life care through education,
program development,
networking, demonstration projects
and advocacy. One of our important
services is connecting health
professionals to resources to help
them improve their skills. Use
this site to:
Health care organizations which
share our commitment to excellence
in palliative care are invited to
learn more about coalition
membership.
