|
“Vision without action is merely a dream.
Action without vision just passes the
time.
Vision with action can change the world.”
-- Joel Barker, futurist
A Better Way Coalition, Inc.: Life on Our
Own Terms is the Idaho statewide end-of-life
coalition made up of professional associations and
organizations, citizen advocacy groups, concerned
individuals, health care facilities, educational
institutions, agencies, and local end-of-life
coalitions. In collaboration, coalition participants
provide knowledge, tools and mechanisms to promote
broad-based, compassionate palliative care for
terminally ill and dying people and the frail elderly
who are completing life.
Advance care planning in Idaho has been
under study by the Coalition. Advance Care Committee
members provide professional consultation on the
development of Idaho advance care legislation including revision and streamlining of the Idaho Natural Death Act (living will and durable power of attorney for health care), creation of the Health Care Directive Registry housed in the office of the Secretary of State, and the POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) – the new Idaho DNR (do not resuscitate) program. In
addition, coalition committees develop initiatives to
raise community awareness and encourage professional
development about end-of-life issues.
Organized in April of 2003, A Better Way Coalition, Inc. is led by a volunteer leadership team
and executive director. In January 2004, coalition
participants approved a mission statement, strategic
plan and formal membership structure. Participants
contribute in-kind services and/or annual dues to
advance the mission of the coalition and provide funding
for coalition projects, such as this Website. Assistance
is being provided to local community groups interested
in becoming local end-of-life coalitions. In September
2004, A Better Way Coalition, Inc.: Life on Our Own Terms
received The Robert Wood Johnson Rallying Points Award
of Excellence.
Our Vision is to be a voice for
excellent end-of-life care in Idaho.
Our Mission is to provide
knowledge, tools, and mechanisms to promote
compassionate palliative care for terminally ill and
dying people and the frail elderly completing life.
Goals
-
Provide opportunities for communities
to gain a better understanding of palliative care at
the end of life and to become empowered to make
informed choices.
-
Promote the growth of a professional
care-giving culture that embodies the principles of
palliative care at the end of life.
-
Foster the use of coalition
publications on end-of-life issues to develop
initiatives and educate on public policy issues.
-
Strengthen the Idaho end-of-life
network and increase the capacity to promote
palliative care at the end of life in communities
throughout Idaho.
|
