Palliative Care Advisory Council

Welcome to the home page for the Indiana Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council (“Council”). The Council was established in 2016 by the Indiana General Assembly at Indiana Code (IC) 16-19-17 (P.L. 43 - 2016). The Council first met in December 2016 and meets bimonthly. Under the enabling statute, the Council expires June 30, 2019.

Next Meeting
Acronyms and Definitions
Palliative Care Information Centers
Introduction
Purpose of Advisory Council
Council Membership
Palliative Care Teams
Annual Reports
Meeting Minutes
Laws

Next Meeting

The final meeting of the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council was held on June 25, 2019.

Acronyms and Definitions

Acronyms

IDOH: Indiana Department of Health

Definitions

Palliative care: Patient-centered and family-focused medical care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering caused by a medical illness or a physical injury or condition that substantially affects a patient's quality of life. The term includes:
1. Addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
2. Facilitating patient autonomy and choice of care.
3. Providing access to information.
4. Discussing the patient's goals for treatment and treatment options, including hospice care when appropriate.
5. Comprehensively managing pain and symptoms.

[From IC 16-19-17-2]

Palliative Care: Specialized medical care for people living with serious illness. [from Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)]
Palliative Care: Patient and facility-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. Palliative care throughout the continuum of illness involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and to facilitate patient autonomy, access to information and choice. [from National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization]

Palliative Care Information Centers

The Palliative Care Information Center provides information and resources about palliative care.

The Perinatal Hospice Information Center provides information about perinatal hospice and palliative care.

Introduction

The Council has the authority to establish forums, programs, or initiatives designed to educate the public and health care providers through comprehensive and accurate information dissemination and education on palliative care and quality of life for individuals with serious illness. The Council collects, analyzes, advises, and develops state initiatives to this end and can make policy recommendations in order to improve palliative care throughout the state of Indiana.

Purpose of the Advisory Council

The Advisory is established for the following purposes: [IC 16-19-17-4]

To educate and advocate for quality palliative care by request that the state department, either on its own or in partnership with other entities, establish appropriate:
1. forums;
2. programs; or
3. initiatives;

designed to educate the public, health care providers, and health care facilities through comprehensive and accurate information and education on palliative care and quality of life for individuals for serious illnesses.

To collect, analyze, advise on, and develop state initiatives concerning the establishment, maintenance, operation, and evaluation of palliative care in Indiana.
To make policy recommendations to improve palliative care and the quality of life of individuals with serious illnesses.
To prepare a report no later than January 1 of each year concerning the office’s findings under subdivisions (1) through (3).

Council Membership

The Council is comprised of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and public health professionals who each bring a unique and experienced perspective on palliative care. In accordance with IC 16-19-17, members are appointed by the State Health Commissioner and serve three-year terms at the will of the Commissioner and without any reimbursement or compensation.

Council Membership List