The standardization and provincialization of the programs and services represented in this framework will help address inequities in the availability of services and programs for Albertans living with limited care options. [...] We believe that independent evolution of palliative programs across the province, a lack of provincial co-ordinated policies, standards and knowledge-informed guidelines and the absence of performance measurements represents a gap and opportunity to continually improve care and outcomes for patients and families. [...] A provider needs to learn about, consider and respect the patient and family’s perspective on the following (25): death and dying health and suffering hospice and palliative care services western health-care practices awareness of practices and norms from other cultures complementary and alternative modalities/practices the role of spiritual and religious beliefs and practice the r [...] The PEOLC Provincial Steering Committee compiled and developed the following principles for patients and families as a foundational process in providing PEOLC in Alberta: 1. Patient and Family-Centred: It is important that patients and families are placed at the centre of their care to foster participation and collaboration. [...] Many providers at the primary care level participate in a variety of PEOLC educational opportunities, but by virtue of their rural generalist caseloads, the nature of their service delivery and the raw numbers in rural and community home care offices, it is usually only the palliative consultants, specialized palliative home care nurses and hospice nurses that have the advanced training and expert