COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of palliative care for people living with serious illness and their caregivers.  Unfortunately, as interest in palliative care as an essential health care service has grown during the pandemic, one sector still lags: rural communities. Nearly 62 million of the nation’s population live in rural areas. Many of those residing in these communities tend to be older and struggle with higher rates of disability and chronic disease with significantly less access to treatment.

Cambia Health Foundation believes that every person with a serious illness should have access to high quality palliative care -- alongside curative care -- in whatever setting is right for them, whether that’s in the hospital, in the home or in the community. To help shine a light on the significant barriers rural communities face while also building consumer awareness of the benefits of palliative care, the Foundation recently funded a five-part series with PBS Newshour’s Brief but Spectacular show. Each episode offers insight and perspectives, from health care providers, caregivers, patients and loved ones around the country, on the importance for palliative care and the opportunities and challenges for increasing access to and providing palliative care in rural communities.

Series Trailer
We invite you to view the series trailer and then watch each one of the engaging and informative episodes. (Note: final episode to appear in June 2021 and will be added below).

• Palliative Care during COVID-19 - Diane Meier, a palliative care specialist, shares an intimate view of how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting patients and their loved ones. 
• Pediatric Palliative Care with a Nurse Practitioner and Sojourns® Scholar - this episode takes a deeper look at pediatric palliative care and features Sojourns® Scholar Deborah Fisher, PPCPN, who is a practicing nurse at Children’s National in Washington D.C.
• Pediatric Palliative Care in a Mother's Eye - for Beth Papanastasiou, palliative care has been an essential part of making the life of her daughter Bella, diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder after birth, the greatest it can be. This episode highlights the important role palliative care has played in the Papanastasiou family’s journey with their daughter.
• Palliative Care in Rural Communities - several health care professionals, including a doctor, couple, social worker and Sojourns scholar, Liz Anderson, and families share their perspectives on the importance for palliative care. They also discuss the opportunities and challenges for increasing access to and providing palliative care in rural communities.
• Improving Serious Illness Care for LGBTQ Seniors - social scientist and Sojourns scholar, Carey Candrian, dives deeper into how health care transformation begins with open discussions and the creation of space for all to receive the support, connection and advocacy that they deserve.  

Over the last decade, Cambia Health Foundation has invested $48 million in palliative care access, awareness and quality to improve the experience of people and families living with serious illness. By supporting programs like PBS Newshour’s Brief But Spectacular series, the Foundation looks to bring substantive, humanistic content and inspiring untold stories to millions of Americans.