Our mission at By the Bay Health (BTBH) is to provide comfort and support to patients and their families during some of life’s most challenging moments.
Forging partnerships with healthcare leaders like UCSF Health and Kaiser Permanente are key to achieving our goals as an organization.
The care journey for patients with serious illnesses or the need for end-of-life care is rarely linear. Navigating complex arrays of treatment, supportive services, hard choices and decisions families face — these and other realities can easily overwhelm patients and their loved ones.
For patients in hospice or those receiving palliative care, a continuum of care that seamlessly connects various providers and services is crucial. Our partnerships play a vital role in ensuring that patients experience a cohesive, integrated care journey that addresses their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
Better accessibility, better coordination
Kaiser Permanente’s long-standing reputation for patient-centered, integrated care makes it a natural partner for us.
Armika Berkley, DSc and Chief Administrative Officer for Kaiser Permanente, feels the same way. “The research has been clear about the value of partnership and integrated health care in terms of patient outcomes,” she says. “Our partnership with By the Bay Health gives patients the continuum support we provide in terms of health care delivery, as well as high quality health care with respect and dignity when they move to By the Bay Health.”
Through our collaboration, Kaiser Permanente patients can seamlessly transition to hospice care with BTBH without needing to navigate a maze of administrative hurdles. The partnership streamlines the process, reducing delays and facilitating quicker access to necessary services. This ensures that patients receive timely, appropriate care that aligns with their needs and preferences, minimizing disruptions and offering peace of mind to both patients and their families.
Another significant benefit of our partnership with Kaiser Permanente is the streamlined communication between providers. With integrated care pathways, BTBH teams coordinate directly with Kaiser Permanente physicians and specialists. This close communication fosters a mutual understanding of each patient’s needs, allowing us to align our services with Kaiser’s care plans and provide a consistent experience.
Our partnership with Kaiser Permanente has also created opportunities for shared learning and training. Through collaborative education initiatives, BTBH and Kaiser staff exchange expertise on best practices in palliative and hospice care, expanding the knowledge base of both organizations. This sharing of knowledge not only improves care outcomes but also helps us continue to refine its care models to stay at the forefront of compassionate and evidence-based end-of-life care.
Innovation in hospice and palliative care
A pioneer in medical education and innovation, UCSF Health enhances our ability to deliver specialized, nuanced care to patients facing serious illness. Our collaboration fosters a culture of continuous improvement and offers unique opportunities for us to access cutting-edge resources and knowledge.
When asked about UCSF’s partnership with our organization, Dr. Steven Pantilat, MD, Director of the Palliative Care Program at UCSF Health said, “All of us at UCSF care deeply about the value of providing equity, of celebrating diversity and being as inclusive as we can. We think about that both in our team and with the people that we work with, which is why we really value By the Bay Health as a partner.”
Being a partner of UCSF also allows us to incorporate more research-backed methodologies into our hospice and palliative care offerings. This knowledge makes it possible for us to deliver care that not only meets but also exceeds standard practices, providing patients with the highest level of comfort and dignity.
Take pain management, for example. By leveraging UCSF’s research on managing chronic pain, our care teams are better equipped to deliver targeted pain relief strategies that enhance patient quality of life.
Community makes our work possible.
For families, the journey of navigating a loved one’s illness can be overwhelming. Our partnerships — not just with healthcare leaders like UCSF Health and Kaiser Permanente but also with scores of community organizations serving the Bay Area’s diverse population — allow us to deliver care that respects each patient’s cultural, spiritual and personal values.
This sensitivity to diverse backgrounds ensures that patients receive care in a manner that honors their beliefs and preferences, which fosters a sense of respect and inclusion. We strongly believe healthcare is a human right, which is why equitable access to care and initiatives—like our Chinese language team in San Francisco—are so important to our mission.
The more we can develop partnerships that coordinate care, reach diverse communities and help patients and their loved ones navigate the turbulence of end-of-life and palliative care, the more successful we are as an organization.
By the Bay Health is celebrating our 50th anniversary of advocating for hospice and palliative care. You can help us continue our mission by donating. Visit our 50th anniversary page to learn how you can contribute.
