The Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society (PGHPCS) and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) are strengthening their longstanding relationship focused on research, education and community care.
The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), formalizing a commitment to work together on research that explores best practices in hospice and palliative care.
“The hospice sector has historically had limited opportunities to support learning through dedicated research,” says PGHPCS Executive Director Donna Flood. “Together with UNBC, the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society is helping fill that gap by contributing to published research and developing evaluation tools that are raising the standard for people and families facing end-of-life care.”
The partnership will expand opportunities for UNBC students to gain hands-on experience, including clinical placements and opportunities to learn about end-of-life care.
“This agreement reflects the strong connection between UNBC and the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society as well as a shared goal of supporting people and families in the community,” says UNBC Interim President Dr. Bill Owen. “By working together, teaching and research at UNBC can connect with real-world care in the community, generating knowledge and providing meaningful opportunities for students.”
The MOU builds on years of collaboration between UNBC and PGHPCS, including co-created research studies focused on improving hospice and palliative care. School of Nursing Professor Dr. Shannon Freeman has worked with PGHPCS on a variety of research projects, including co-creating a hospice-at-home program.
“This partnership brings together community expertise and academic research to improve how hospice palliative care is delivered,” Freeman says. “By studying and supporting programs like hospice-at-home, we can better understand how to provide care that meets the needs of patients and families, particularly in rural and northern communities.”