Community Votes are Needed for MCCG as It Seeks Grant for Palliative Care Program
Community Votes are Needed for MCCG as It Seeks Grant for Palliative Care Program
Your Votes Could Help Hospital Earn Distinctive Certification
MACON, GA (Tuesday, March 13, 2012) – Voting remains open for the Middle Georgia Taskforce for Quality Palliative Care's campaign to help the Center for Palliative Care at The Medical Center of Central Georgia receive a grant from the LIVESTRONG 2012 Community Impact Project. The initiative has received a lot of positive feedback, but central and south Georgia residents are still encouraged to visit www.VoteMacon.org through Friday, March 23, and take just 30 seconds to vote for MCCG's Center for Palliative Care. The center is seeking to become one of 20 palliative care providers in eight regions nationwide to be granted $10,000 from the LIVESTRONG 2012 Community Impact Project, which could help it receive advanced certification, the first of its kind in the state.
MCCG's Center for Palliative Care has served since 2004 thousands of patients and their families dealing with the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness. Ultimately, MCCG needs the highest number of votes in the Southeast region to receive the grant, which will defray costs associated with applying for the Joint Commission's Advanced Certification Program for Palliative Care.
A vote from a member of the community represents buy-in, awareness, and support; has the potential to bring needed financial and professional resources to their community; and enhances the sustainability of the palliative care program at MCCG. LIVESTRONG's Community Impact Project granting philosophy endorses an online voting approach, which shows broad community support and engagement, rather than merit-based grant applications.
Palliative care is a special partnership between the patient, family, and medical specialists and caregivers. MCCG's Center for Palliative Care understands the importance of this partnership as well as the quality of life issues, comfort care and symptom management required to be a high-quality palliative care provider.
Should MCCG receive the grant, it will be provided with technical assistance and hands-on mentoring from faculty of the national palliative care body – the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). The CAPC provides health care professionals with the tools, training and technical assistance necessary to start and sustain successful palliative care teams in hospitals and other health care settings. Joint Commission certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality.
LIVESTRONG's Community Impact Project designated the Joint Commission's Advanced Certification Program for Palliative Care as a model program for replication. The project annually replicates evidence-based programs that support people affected by cancer within one city, state or region of the United States.
The Middle Georgia Taskforce for Quality Palliative Care includes academic, health care, community, business and government partners.
For more information about LIVESTRONG's Community Impact Projects, visit http://www.livestrong.org/What-We-Do/Our-Actions/Programs-Partnerships/Community-Engagement.