Welcome to Bytown Palliative Medicine.
We are a group of physicians specialized in palliative medicine. We provide care to patients with terminal conditions who are wishing for a home or hospice death.
About Us
Bytown Palliative Medicine is a group of physicians specialized in palliative medicine. We provide care to patients with terminal conditions who are wishing for a home or hospice death. We help manage symptoms (such as pain, shortness of breath, and nausea) to relieve suffering and enable our patients to have the best quality of life possible. We provide support and education to our patients as well as their caregivers.
Referrals
Please note, we only accept referrals from physicians.
Prior to referring, please review our referral criteria:
The patient has a life-limiting illness with an expected prognosis of six months or less
The patient and family are aware of their diagnosis and prognosis
The patient wishes for palliative goals of care* and the family agrees to these goals. Within these goals, the patient wishes for a home or hospice death. (*This may include returning to hospital for treatments such as palliative radiation, etc.)
The patient has reduced functionality: mainly in bed, or sitting, PPS 50% or less
The patient is active with the Home and Community Care Support Servives (HCCSS) palliative caseload
The patient has adequate support in the home to allow a home death or wishes transfer to hospice
The patient has a safe home environment where care can be delivered
The patient’s family physician has been contacted, and agrees with the referral
The patient and family are aware and accepting of the referral to our team
The referring physician and the patient are aware that until the initial visit by a BPM physician, the referring physician will continue to be the most responsible physician
Making a referral
Please use our referral form and complete the requirements section in FULL. Incomplete referrals are not triaged.
Attach necessary documents such as recent oncology notes, imaging reports, and lab values (we do not have access to EPIC or other hospital EMRs)
Provide sufficient demographic information for the patient including address where care is to be delivered
Provide a contact fax and phone number for the referring physician
We often have a wait list. More information helps us to triage effectively.
Once the referral is submitted
We will acknowledge all referrals within 5 business days.
If your referral is (or becomes) urgent (patient has prognosis of < 14 days), please reach out to us by phone to discuss with one of our physicians.
When one of our physicians has met with the patient/family for their initial visit, you will be notified by faxed letter. Until this visit, the referring physician/family physician remains the most responsible physician(s).
For patient's outside of our catchment area please consult the map below for information on community palliative care coverage across the Champlain region.
Resources
Provides community palliative coverage in the west end of the city.
Provides community palliative coverage in Orleans.
Provides community palliative care in North Grenville and surrounding areas.
Provides palliative expertise to support family physicians doing palliative care across the region.
Local MAiD resource.
FAQ
How do(es) I/my loved one become a patient?
Ask your family or specialty physician (e.g. your oncologist) if you meet criteria for a referral to our team. We only accept referrals from physicians.
Are your services covered by OHIP?
Yes, our visits are covered through Ontario’s provincial health insurance.
Where do you provide care for your patients?
We see patients at home (including if they live at a retirement home) and Maycourt Hospice. Please note we do not see patients in long term care facilities.
My family/specialty care physician referred me to you, but I have not heard from your team - why?
We triage referrals based on urgency and often have a wait list. Urgent referrals are often picked up within a week whereas less urgent referrals will take longer.
Does your team speak french?
Some physicians on our team speak French; however, given we share on-call duties, you may interact with physicians who cannot speak French. Unfortunately none of our physicians are francophone.
I want Medical Assistance in Dying. Does your team do that?
We do not provide MAiD; however we are able to counsel you/your loved one on the process to obtain MAiD and help connect you with the local MAiD resources.
