Franciscan Health System, the largest provider of in-home and inpatient hospice and palliative services in Washington State, announced today that it has received a $271,000 grant from Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) to continue a successful program that is making ethnic minority populations more aware of options for end-of-life care.

The grant from Denver-based CHI, the national organization with which Franciscan is affiliated, extends the community outreach program, called “Closing the Disparity Gap in End of Life Care,” through June 2012.

“The sole purpose of this initiative is to help terminally ill patients and their families from minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds in our community access high quality, culturally sensitive end-of-life services,” said Mark Rake-Marona, regional director of Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care. “We want everyone, including minority-population individuals, to make informed choices about medical and supportive services when they’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness.”

In the 12-month period ending June 30, Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care staff provided care for 2,409 home-based patients. Additionally, 590 patients were admitted for care to Franciscan Hospice House in University Place. Also, Franciscan’s Palliative Care Outreach Program, which serves individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness but who have more than six months of life expectancy, served another 600 men and women.

Still, only about 10 percent of patients and families served by Franciscan’s end-of-life care programs are from minority ethnic and cultural groups even though these groups represent about 25 percent of the local population.

The grant from the CHI Mission and Ministry Fund could help to change this as an increasing number of people become aware of hospice and other end-of-life programs that could benefit them and their loved ones.

Since receiving the planning grant for this new outreach effort a year ago, Franciscan has established partnerships with multiple organizations such as the Korean Women’s Association, Hilltop Christian Center, Community Health Care, American Cancer Society, Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and others.

In addition to supporting the outreach to these community partners, the CHI grant helps pay for updates to the Relationship Centered Care training for Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care staff and volunteers. Patients from all ethnic groups are assured that they will be treated with ultimate sensitivity to their cultural values and needs. Also, Franciscan has translated and printed its brochures regarding Hospice and Palliative Care in Korean and Spanish. The brochures will be printed in additional languages over the next three years.

Additionally, Korean and Hispanic community members can access the Franciscan Health System website view all Hospice and Palliative Care information in their respective languages, including culturally relevant use of color, value of family and tradition, and the importance of community. Over the next three years of grant-funded work, more language choices will become available.

“We look forward to continuing to partner with our community in order to help terminally ill individuals from all minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds to access high quality, culturally sensitive palliative, hospice and bereavement services,” said Charles Horne, multicultural coordinator for Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care. “We want to ensure that all dying individuals and their families have the opportunity to receive the holistic care and comfort that end-of-life services provide. This reflects our commitment to being the best community health resource and to ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need.”