PeaceHealth in Whatcom County is bringing back its outpatient palliative care program, after hearing a wave of criticism from patients and community members when the program was cut in May.
Details about what palliative care at PeaceHealth will look like, or when it will resume, weren’t immediately available. PeaceHealth Communications Specialist Anne Williams provided a statement to Cascadia Daily News:
“Based on further discernment and discussions between PeaceHealth and the [PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center] Foundation, work is underway to restore an outstanding outpatient palliative care program that is both sustainable and scalable. We look forward to sharing details with the community once plans are finalized.”
“Moving forward, PeaceHealth is committed to continued dialogue and a more transparent and collaborative partnership with the Foundation and the community, on this and other important issues impacting the people of Bellingham and Whatcom County,” the statement concluded.
Palliative care is specialized, holistic medical care for people with serious illnesses. PeaceHealth’s palliative care program had cared for people diagnosed with cancer; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD; congestive heart failure; and those who were no longer in hospice.
PeaceHealth ended comprehensive outpatient palliative care on May 26, reducing staff to one nurse and one social worker for in-home care of seriously ill patients.
It’s unclear how PeaceHealth will pay for a revived palliative care program. Bryan Stewart, system vice president for PeaceHealth’s Home and Community Division, told Cascadia Daily News in May that the health care provider couldn’t justify continuing the program, given the high cost of palliative care.
“On average, insurance reimbursement only covers 15–20 percent of the palliative care program costs,” Stewart said. “With rising costs across all service lines, it was simply not feasible to continue offering the comprehensive outpatient palliative program.”
Stewart said the Foundation received a single, $1.25 million gift several years ago to launch the outpatient palliative care program, with an additional $1 million contributed by community members.
Some patients and observers had said the decision to drastically reduce palliative care went against PeaceHealth’s mission and broke a promise to donors.
PeaceHealth also decided earlier this year to close its allergy clinic and overnight sleep lab.
