From left to right: Gillian Gregoire, Fallon Paskemin, Jen Muir, Chantelle Bear, Louise Churchman, Patricia Whitecalf, Jenniffer Gagate and Chris Etcheverry. They stand in front of the new Palliative Door Decals in BUH on Dec. 12, 2024. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

PALLIATIVE CARE

Battlefords Union Hospital opens doors to culturally inclusive palliative care

Dec 2, 2024 | 4:23 PM

Healthcare workers in Battleford came together to celebrate the unveiling of the Palliative Door Decals by the Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre (BRT6HC) at Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH), aiming to support patients as they navigate the final stages of life.

By using traditional and calming Indigenous imagery on the palliative care doors, they hope to help ease the experience for patients, families, and even healthcare staff when entering these emotionally charged spaces.

“Hospitals can be very scary, and they can be daunting places for people to come. So, our goal is to try to get rid of that scariness of the hospital and that ‘We’re here to help you, and we’re here to take care of you,’ and try to make things as most comfortable as we can,” said Chris Etcheverry, director of acute care northwest at Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

Though it may seem simple to some, Etcheverry believes adorning the hospital with cultural artwork has an impact. It can help bring patients a sense of comfort and belonging during their most vulnerable moments.

“It is also part of the work we are doing to achieve a very culturally inclusive and responsive workforce for our staff and our physicians so that we can shape that future not to be like it was from the past,” he added.

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They are located on the third floor. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW Staff)

From left to right: Chris Etcheverry, Gillian Gregoire, Fallon Paskemin, Chantelle Bear, Jenniffer Gagate.(Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Alongside the hospital door decals, BRT6HC is developing a series of palliative care resources for the First Nation community, offering more wrap-around support for patients who spend their final days at home or in the hospital.

One of the services offered is the comfort care packages, designed to provide essentials such as smudge kits and sweetgrass, making patients feel more at home.

A palliative care comfort package. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW Staff)

“We went many, many years without a palliative care program. So, since May, there’s been a lot of program development, and I think it’ll just continue to get better as we continue to work with SHA,” said Chantelle Bear, a palliative care nurse coordinator at BRT6HC.

Bear went on to share details about the first home death on Sept. 15, pointing out the family expressed gratitude for being able to honour their loved one’s passing in a way that resonated with their cultural beliefs.

Through smudging and other spiritual practices, even in the hospital, she noted that patients can feel more at peace knowing their culture still supports them.

“There are lots of things we can do, and I don’t want clients to be afraid of the word ‘palliative care’ because it can actually be a very holistic and good experience for them, their families, and their caregivers,” she said.

So far, they have 21 clients from different communities, including Little Pine First Nation, Poundmaker Cree Nation, and Sweetgrass First Nation.

Fallon Shantrell Paskemin, a First Nation hospital liaison nurse at BUH. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW staff))

According to Patricia Whitecalf, the executive director of BRT6HC, they are actively improving healthcare access for First Nation communities, highlighting the strong partnership they have established with SHA as a vital component of their efforts to enhance these services.

“I’m quite proud of our team, who put this together. It’s a good feeling knowing that we’re here in partnership with BUH to promote our services and to continue making those relationships,” she noted.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com