iPal Global - palliative care

iPal Global is a free, downloadable app that provides access to essential palliative care information for clinicians in any care setting, including locations with limited internet access or phone service. Guidelines have been tailored for use in resource-constrained environments where clinicians may not have easy access to all medications or therapies.

The iPal Global app is specially designed for use by clinicians in low- and middle-income countries where:

Medications are limited;

Access to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, organ transplant and maintenance therapies are limited or unavailable.

The app offers concise management suggestions and options in four topic areas:

Assess: Use the screening tool to assess whether your patient needs palliative care

Manage: Determine which drugs and therapies to use for common symptoms

Plan: Access aids for planning future care and decision-making

Communicate: Make communication therapeutic by using talking tips for breaking bad news, CPR, prognosis, goals of care, end-of-life and specific situations

There is also an interactive Scale to help you assess and monitor symptom severity.

The content for the iPal Global app was developed by Romayne Gallagher MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP, a Canadian palliative care expert with more than 25 years of experience providing clinical palliative care across hospitals, hospices, homes and outpatient departments. Dr. Gallagher is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of British Columbia. iPal Global focuses on how to provide a high level of palliative care using the most widely-available medications and therapy. The content has been verified by clinicians working in India and Africa as part of the Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration.

This app was reviewed and additions recommended by: Dr. Gillian Fyles (Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration (TWCC)), Dr. Jean Jacob Mathews (TWCC, MNJ Institute of Oncology & Regional Cancer Center, India) and Dr. Jonathan Pearce (Providence Health Care and TWCC).

Dr. Srini Chary gave a significant donation to St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation to fund the app.

The original app was modified and proofread by members of the Hospice Palliative Care Program at Providence Health Care.

Providence Health Care is a faith-based healthcare organization that has a Hospice Palliative Care Program of 3 palliative consultation teams (2 acute care teams, 1 residential team) 12 acute palliative care beds and 14 hospice beds. The team works with partner organizations in the community and other health authorities to provide care for patients from across the province of British Columbia.

Providence is a teaching and academic facility associated with the Faculty of Medicine at UBC and we have many learners come through our program. They have also contributed excellent ideas to help improve the app.

The app was developed in response to a study done across our organization that showed that the quality of care for at end-of-life varied dramatically.

The app was made to be used in caring for patients anywhere and aims to provide essential and useful clinical information.

The app and accompanying website were designed and developed by Monkey Hill Health Communications.