Palliative care, also known as multidisciplinary care, emerges as an answer to the needs of patients facing chronic and terminal illnesses.
The report from the Every single minute spoke with oncologist, Carolina Zau, to understand how the service offering works in the State of Alagoas, the challenges faced by professionals and the best ways to access it.
According to the specialist, the main objective of the multidisciplinary approach is to improve the quality of life and reduce the suffering of patients with serious, life-threatening illnesses.
Firstly, Carolina explains that as it is a follow-up aimed at reducing difficulties, it is unique for each patient, taking into account their particularities and life history. Therefore, the responsible team always seeks to individualize treatment according to each patient’s specific disease.
“Professionals will always individualize, according to the patient’s stage of the disease, this care and their wishes and desires. Remembering that everyone has their own life story and desires.”, he explained.
When is the ideal time to seek the service?
Regarding the best time to look for the service, the specialist highlights that palliative care is not limited to the final stages of life, but must be integrated from the moment serious and incurable illnesses are diagnosed.
According to Zau, it is essential that, upon receiving the diagnosis, the patient begins care in conjunction with other treatments.
“Upon diagnosis of a serious and incurable disease, the patient should already receive palliative care along with other specialties. Combined with disease-modifying treatments, the patient should already be accompanied by the palliative care team,” explained the doctor. .
This early approach not only seeks to control symptoms, but also aims to create an environment of support and understanding for the patient and their family.
Integration from diagnosis allows the medical team to work together with the patient and their loved ones, providing not only physical relief, but also emotional, psychological and spiritual support.
“The ideal is that we can start as early as possible to prepare, create a bond with this family, with this patient, prepare him and the moment of death be a peaceful phase, of transition from something suffered, but inevitable, and that We are there to provide comfort and prepare the family for what is going to happen.” said Zau.
Challenges in providing care
Although Alagoas has advanced in the provision of services, especially in High Complexity Oncology Care Centers (CACOMs), there are still significant gaps in other areas of health, as the oncologist highlights.
“This ends up being an initiative of the services itself, but of course due to a regulation by the Ministry of Health, but there is still a huge failure in other areas, when we are not talking about cancer.”
The oncologist also highlights the urgency of expanding these services beyond the oncology scope, covering patients with various serious chronic conditions. According to her, the scenario of palliative care services is a challenge not only in Alagoas, but throughout Brazil.
She also reports that there was a significant movement in the country to regulate this service in the Unified Health System (SUS), aiming to guarantee adequate financing and the provision of these services throughout the national territory. “So, due to this requirement from the Ministry of Health, the CACOMs all have palliative care services.”, she stated.
Palliative care in the SUS in Alagoas
Zau explains that, currently, the main palliative care services in Alagoas are linked to the SUS oncology system, such as the CACOMs at Santa Casa and the University Hospital (HU). She highlights, however, that there is a lack of professionals specialized in this field in the state.
“We also have few professionals, specialists in palliative care, here in Alagoas I believe there are only four professionals with a degree in palliative care who took the title test and have the RQE [Registro de Qualificação de Especialidade] registered in CRM [Conselho Federal de Medicina]so that also limits a lot.”, asked Carolina.
Furthermore, the expert highlights that, although there are other professionals with postgraduate degrees in the area, the number is still insufficient to meet demand.
Despite the challenges, the doctor recognizes the efforts of health professionals and institutions in Alagoas to provide quality care to patients, highlighting the importance of expanding and strengthening these services throughout the State.
“So it’s really a progressive thing and they understand the importance because palliative care will help him reduce his suffering and control his symptoms,” he added.
See care points in the State
Through the portal Alagoas Digital, the State Government provides information about the palliative care services offered by the SUS in Alagoas. Additionally, there are also services available in the private health network and initiatives that seek to promote this form of assistance.
Check out the units that offer palliative care through the SUS below:
Santa Casa de Maceió
(82) 2123-6000
Professor Alberto Antunes University Hospital (Hupaa)
(82) 3202-3800
Professor Ib Gatto Falcão General Hospital
(82) 3261-2414
UPA Emergency Care Unit Dr. Claudio Costa
(82) 3315-6415/3358-1653
Mixed Unit Senator Arnon Affonso De Melo
(82) 3686-1972
24-hour UPA Emergency Care Unit Dr Ismar Gatto
(82) 3023-5682
UPA Cidade Universitária Emergency Care Unit
(82) 3315-1105
UPA Galba Novaes Emergency Care Unit
[email protected], [email protected]
(82) 2121-9801
Emergency Care Unit UPA Noel Macedo Melo
[email protected] [email protected]
(82) 3315-1118 Ascom
24-hour UPA Emergency Care Unit UPA Dr. Délio Almeida
(82) 98752-2864
*Intern under editorial supervision
