Palliative Care: Compassionate Care Beyond Hospital

Categories: Care.

The World Hospice Palliative Care Day Webinar on the theme “Palliative Care: Compassionate Care Beyond Hospital” was held on October 21, 2023, as a result of a combined effort between the Bunda Jakarta General Hospital team of Bunda Medika Healthcare System (BMHS) and the Indonesian Cancer Foundation. Over 170 people from various backgrounds attended the event, including largely healthcare professionals and patients, but also caregivers and community leaders.

The webinar began with a welcome address by Amir Hamigu, MD, MM. MARS (Medical Director, Nursing, and Quality of BMHS), and was followed by a welcome speech from Prof. Aru W Sudoyo, MD, FACP, FINASIM (President of the Indonesian Cancer Foundation). The president of the World Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA), Dr Stephen Connor, PhD, LP, made the introductory remarks where he reported the current palliative care global landscape and the need for a compassionate community to support healthcare professionals and facilities and ensuring access to palliative care.

The first session featured Diah Martina, MD, PhD, a palliative care physician at Bunda Jakarta Hospital, showcasing palliative care and its fundamental concepts. During her talk, Dr. Diah clarified common misconceptions about palliative care. The second session featured Ednin Hamzah, MD, a well-known expert in palliative care, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Palliative Care and Hospice Network (APHN), and CEO of Hospis Malaysia, a nonprofit organisation that offers professional community palliative care to individuals in Malaysia who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses (such as cancer, AIDS, organ failure, or progressive neurological conditions). In his enlightening talk, Dr. Ednin emphasised the fundamentals of home-base palliative care—that is, the components required to provide palliative care in a home environment. The talk stressed the value of providing individualised and all-encompassing care.

Dr. Hamzah’s presentation featured compelling case studies showcasing successful implementation of home-based palliative care programs by Hospis Malaysia. These case studies provided practical insights into overcoming challenges and highlighted the positive impact of community involvement in delivering high-quality palliative care.

Interactive Q&A Session:

The Q&A session allowed participants to engage directly with the speakers. Attendees asked insightful questions, ranging from clarifying the concepts of palliative care – its elements and implementation – some were sharing some real cases of patients with palliative care problems, clinical approaches to emotional support for families, and strategies to support advocacy. The exchange of ideas and experiences enriched the overall learning experience and was extended up to 30 minutes to facilitate all questions.

Feedback:

The webinar received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, reflecting their appreciation for the informative and engaging sessions. Attendees praised the relevance of the content, and the opportunity to have discussions with experts in the field. Many expressed a desire for similar events in the future.

Conclusion:

The World Hospice Palliative Care Day webinar proved to be a resounding success, demonstrating the growing interest and commitment to advancing palliative care in the home setting. The event also emphasised the critical role of compassionate communities in ensuring that individuals and their families receive the best possible care and support throughout their chronic illness journeys.

The organising entity extended its gratitude to all speakers and participants for their invaluable contributions to the event. It is anticipated that the insights gained from this webinar will serve as a catalyst for further advancements in home-based palliative care and the promotion of compassionate communities by Bunda Jakarta General Hospital.

Next Steps:

The success of this webinar underscores the need for continued efforts in promoting palliative care, both within the hospital but also particularly in the home setting. The organising entity is committed to exploring opportunities for future events, workshops, and collaborative initiatives to further advance palliative care services, including home-based palliative care services.

Link to the recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/b5wMaQZ2yWU?si=vn1jcH7ydNsUy9fQ

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