Join host, Lori Gill, as she is joined by Tracy Lavigne, NSMHPCN PPSMC, and Krista Hastings, Clinical Manager with Ontario Health atHome, as they discuss Ontario Health atHome’s role in coordination of palliative care at home and the importance of linking patients and families with the essential supports and services that are required to support the provision of hospice palliative care and end of life care in the community.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

In this episode, host Lori Gill and podcast producer Amanda Tevelde will celebrate the 50th episode with the help of some past guests who will pose questions we’ve all been wanting to ask!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

In this episode, host Lori Gill is joined by Louise Brazier, Bereavement Services Coordinator with NSMHPCN, along with Stefanie Collins, Social Worker, and Sidney Grocott, Community Social Worker, both from Hospice Orillia, to discuss the importance of being an ally in grief and bereavement.

Recommended reading:

• It’s OK That You're Not OK! by Megan Devine
• The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
• Grief Ally: Helping People You Love Cope with Death, Loss, and Grief by Aly Bird 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

In this episode, host Lori Gill is joined by Rachel Lapensee to explore the powerful impact of Palliative Care Consultation Teams (PCCTs) in long-term care (LTC) settings. As our aging population grows, so does the complexity of care required in LTC. Rachel shares insights from a recent 2025 study published in BMC Palliative Care and unpacks how PCCTs—made up of palliative care physicians, social workers, and other specialists—can enhance quality of life, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, support staff, and provide comfort to families and residents alike.
Tune in to learn how integrating a palliative approach earlier in the illness trajectory can transform care in LTC facilities.

Article: Palliative care consultation teams in long-term care: a descriptive retrospective cohort study 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

Join our host Lori Gill, and her guest Julie Leighton-Phelps, Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant with the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network, as they discuss a palliative approach to serious mental illnesses(SMI).

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

Join our host Lori Gill, and her guest Laura Bates, Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant with the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network, as they discuss Normalizing Talking About Death & Dying. 

Related resources

• Transcript
• Article: Patient’s Perspectives on the Notion of a Good Death - A Systematic Review of the Literature
• Article: Upstreaming and Normalizing Advance Care Planning Conversations—A Public Health Approach

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

Join us on Beyond the Stethoscope, a podcast exploring the heart of hospice palliative care. In this episode, host Lori Gill is joined by Nancy Good-Kennedy, palliative pain and symptom management consultants with the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network. Together, they dive into the innovation and technology in the management of chronic illness.

Article Referenced:

Assessing Telehealth in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness and Challenges in Rural and Underserved Areas

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

Join us on Beyond the Stethoscope, a podcast exploring the heart of hospice palliative care. In this episode, host Lori Gill is joined by Julie Leighton Phelps,  palliative pain and symptom management consultants, and Kathleen Bartlett, palliative pain and symptom management consultant and Indigenous portfolio navigator, both with the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network. Together, they dive into the importance of advanced care planning—why it matters, how it empowers individuals, and the steps you can take to ensure your healthcare wishes are honoured. Don’t wait for a crisis—start the conversation today. 

Advance Care Planning Resources

https://nsmhpcn.ca/acp/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

Join our host, Lori Gill, NSMHPCN Education Specialist, and her guests, Nancy Good-Kennedy, Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant with the NSMHPCN, for an in-depth conversation about the importance of Palliative Care Discussions.

Related article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11528878/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.

Join our guest host, Rachel Lapensee, NSMHPCN Clinical Nurse Manager, and her guests, Laura Bates and Lynda Meeks, Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultants with the NSMHPCN, who oversee the educational portfolio of the clinical team, as they discuss palliative care for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Articles referenced:

• The Palliative Care Needs of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Access to Palliative Care Services: A Systematic Review; By Emily Adam1, Katherine E Sleeman, Sarah Brearley, Katherine Hunt and Irene Tuffrey-Wijne.
• “It was one of those complicated cases”: Health Practitioners’ Perspectives and Practices of Providing End-of-Life Care for People with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disability; By Hille Voss, April Loxton, Julie Anderson and Joanne Watson

Related resources:

• Free Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Courses ( search webinar: Equity and Inclusion Lens from the Cornerstone on Demand Foundation)
• Primary Care Guidelines – DDPCP
• NTG-EDSD Screening Tool | Dementia and ID or DD | The NTG
• Easy Health | Home
• NTG-EDSD Screening Tool | Dementia and ID or DD | The NTG

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network.