E08-A Palliative Care Units (PCUs): Towards International Definitions and Standards for Tertiary-Level In-Patient Service Provision

Palliative Care Units (PCUs) are an integral part of tertiary-level service provision in jurisdictions recognized for the full integration of palliative care under a systems approach. As part of the mandate of the “Declaration of Partnership and Commitment to Action” as a policy document, the Province of Ontario (Canada) is currently building an integrated service framework to improve access to and strengthen the provision of services across the continuum of care. Systemic challenges for (acute) in-patient facilities include levels of service provision, health human resources and remuneration (with a new health-based funding model taking volume and patient-types but not approaches to care into account). This presentation - by members of the interdisciplinary Provincial PCU Expert Panel - is set to:•Introduce the province-wide PCU Survey conducted in collaboration with Cancer Care Ontario;•Describe the work of the Provincial PCU Expert Panel (with regard to a “Provincial Palliative Care Units’ Day”); and•Facilitate discussion around proposed definitions and standards for PCUs (including baskets of services, staffing ratios by profession and performance metrics) under an international lens. Building upon a synthesis of the literature (including the European Association for Palliative Care’s White Papers and the (US) Center to Advance Palliative Care’s Guidelines and Quality Standards) alongside Expert Panel advice, draft definitions for different types of PCUs were established and suggestions toward standards prepared. These documents will help to stimulate interaction with the audience to:•Enhance awareness and generate feed-back;•Potentially modify definitions and standards; and•Foster the communication flow from the healthcare provider side. Learnings are highly transferable and set to further service provision across the continuum and to facilitate holistic, patient-centered care in the in-patient setting while informing health policy and remuneration practice. International input will also help with regard to branching out of cancer care and moving services upstream.