Introduction

PALLIATIVE CARE IS…

"The active, total (holistic) care of patients and their families by a multi-professional team, when the patient's disease is no longer responsive to curative treatment."

Palliative Care assures achievement of the best possible quality of life as it,

• Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
• Provides relief from pain & other distressing symptoms.
• Integrates the physical, psychological, social and spiritual care.

Service

OPD based care for Symptom Management with emphasis on Quality of life.

1. Care of physical symptoms with their medical and nursing management
2. Care for psycho-social issues of patient and family care -giver, with appropriate referrals and networking. This is mainly in the form of Counseling with trained personnel.
3. Yoga, meditation, music therapy, group sharing, Reiki, etc are available on set days.
4. Training for the family members with regard to wound care and other symptom management for the patient.
5. Rehabilitation with prosthesis, wheel chairs, water bed etc.
6. Judicious financial help through the Medical Social Services Department is also provided.
7. Dedicated Pediatric Palliative Care Unit

These services are provided with our multi-disciplinary team which includes doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, volunteers and alternative therapists.

HOME CARE TEAM

A multidisciplinary team visits Bombay based patients who cannotcome to hospital; at their homes in order to develop a deeper understanding of their socio-cultural context and provide individualized care.

Bereavement Support: Our care does not stop with the passing over of a patient, but rathercontinues through the process of grieving. Our Home Care team continues visiting the family until they are better equipped to deal with the grief and move on.

REFERRAL SERVICES TO A HOSPICE, as per need

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

We conduct University recognized training programs for doctors and nurses of duration` 1 month and 10 days.

8 days course for paramedical staff and volunteers.

The course covers the following principles of Palliative Care

a) Management of Pain in Cancer.
b) Holistic Approach in Symptom Management.
c) Good symptom control in cancer.
d) Dealing with various psychological, social issues of the patients.
e) Communication and breaking bad news.
f) Ethical issues in palliative care.

Our aim is to spread the awareness of the services available for the patients. Each participant is in turn expected to do the same and help the patients they come in contact with by alleviating their symptoms and tackling their issues.

RESEARCH

Minimal research is feasible with sick patients. However, the emphasis is on audits and simple research possible.

The following studies are being conducted in our department

1) Study on management of fungating wounds.
2) Symptom control and Palliative Care symptom assessment. (using Edmonton scale)
3) Bereavement support.
4) Family collusion.
5) Women and work.
6) Study on Prevalence of Pain in Palliative Care.