When you hear about palliative care, you think that the end of life has arrived, however, it is the approach that helps patients and their families improve their quality of life in the face of adverse diagnoses or diagnoses that may put their lives at risk. .
This is how Dr. Rubén Darío Serrano Villabona, specialist in family medicine and leader of Palliative Care at the Clínica Grupo Quirónsalud, defines it, adding that this type of care is provided for both oncological and non-oncological patients, as well as for adults and pediatrics. .
When does palliative care start?
In cancer patients it should be from the moment the disease is diagnosed in the person. “Regardless of its stage or when it is diagnosed, if we have a long-term, medium-term or short-term prognosis,” says Dr. Serrano.
In the case of non-cancer patients, palliative care is provided for many diseases, some of which are Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD, as well as dementia or heart failure, among others. “It should be specified that in these cases palliative care is used when the medical resources that are usually provided for these diseases are running out,” he points out.
What is palliative care used for?
- Control symptoms such as pain, choking or dyspnea, hiccups, nausea, insomnia, etc. The aim is for the patient to have as few symptoms as possible, thus contributing to improving their quality of life.
- Communication. The patient must have clear communication with their doctor, palliative care serves as a bridge for this. The patient will know his disease, its prognosis, the possible complications that may arise and the side effects that the treatments may generate.
- Preparation for outcomes that are not expected. “When working on symptom control and communication, the person can prepare for an outcome such as impaired function or even death,” says Dr. Serrano.
Where can they be borrowed?
Palliative care is performed in a multidisciplinary way. When they are hospitalized, several specialties intervene, but they can also be provided at home, in health centers and in specialized centers for terminal patients.
At Clínica Grupo Quirónsalud we have a Palliative Care area, where comprehensive care is offered to patients and their families, made up of a multidisciplinary group of specialists who work to improve people’s quality of life.