On Saturday, October 14, it is palliative care day. A day dedicated to care for people in the final phase of their lives. At Rijnstate they took a great next step in the care of palliative patients last month. They opened the Acute Palliative Unit (APU) in the oncology nursing department. Here they can admit patients with cancer for short-term specialized palliative care at a fixed location.
This APU is specially intended for patients with cancer who have gone home for the final phase of their lives, but suddenly develop complaints that require hospital care. This includes treating severe pain or nausea or placing a drain to prevent fluid retention. During the admission, attention is also paid to any psychological complaints, such as fear or sadness or feelings of loss. Patients are admitted for a period of usually four or five days, after which they return to their own environment as soon as possible.
Combining knowledge and skills
The Center for Supportive and Palliative Care (COPZ) is a consultation team where two internist-oncologists, one clinical geriatrician, two pain physicians and several nurse specialists work. The COPZ team can be contacted by healthcare providers in and outside the hospital for a consultation or telephone advice. Ingeborg van der Ploeg, oncology nurse manager: “At the APU, the COPZ doctors are the main practitioners and they work closely with nurses from the nursing department of our oncology department. This way we bundle all knowledge and skills in one place and we can help our patients even faster and in a more targeted manner.”
Maurice van der Vorst, internist-oncologist / palliative care doctor: “The COPZ can now offer short-term specialized care at a fixed location in the hospital for terminally ill patients with cancer and their loved ones. The APU is a warm environment where we make decisions together with the patient and can therefore offer tailor-made care. We are extremely proud of this milestone.”
For more information, please visit the website: www.rijnstate.nl
2023-10-13 12:56:51
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