For individuals in Nova Scotia facing a diagnosis of non-curable cancer, supportive care programs play a vital role in significantly enhancing their quality of life. This patient-centered approach is deeply rooted in evidence-based best practices and is considered an integral responsibility of all healthcare providers involved in oncology.
This comprehensive approach to care encompasses several critical components:
- Early Identification: Promptly recognizing patients diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses, such as those with metastatic cancer, to ensure timely access to supportive services.
- Routine Symptom Screening: Implementing regular symptom assessments using validated tools like the Patients Come First Distress Screening Tool to proactively manage patient discomfort and distress.
- Functional Assessment: Utilizing standardized assessments such as the PPS (Palliative Performance Scale) or ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) to evaluate patients’ functional status and tailor care accordingly.
- Advance Care Planning and Goals of Care Discussions: Facilitating crucial conversations about advance care planning and patient preferences through serious illness conversations, empowering patients to articulate their wishes for future care.
- Referrals and Collaboration: Ensuring seamless referrals to and collaboration with specialized palliative care teams and community support services to provide holistic and integrated care.
To further equip healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to conduct sensitive and effective serious illness conversations with their patients, valuable resources are readily available.
LEAP Oncology stands out as an exceptional one-day course designed with an inter-professional learning environment. This face-to-face program incorporates group discussions, practical case studies, and readily accessible resources. LEAP Oncology is particularly beneficial for healthcare professionals working within cancer care settings whose primary specialization may not be palliative care. The course curriculum and case studies are specifically contextualized to the nuances of cancer care, addressing essential topics such as:
- Advance Care Planning: Guiding patients and families through the process of planning for future medical decisions.
- Essential Conversations: Developing proficiency in conducting sensitive and meaningful conversations about serious illness and end-of-life care.
- Taking Ownership: Emphasizing the responsibility of all healthcare providers in delivering supportive care.
- Pain Management: Strategies for effectively assessing and managing cancer-related pain.
- Delirium: Recognizing and managing delirium in cancer patients.
- Nausea, Nutrition, and Hydration: Addressing common symptoms and nutritional challenges faced by cancer patients.
LEAP Oncology holds accreditation as a Group Learning Activity, recognized by the Maintenance of Certification program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for 7.5 hours. The Cancer Care Program actively encourages and supports healthcare providers in enrolling in the LEAP ONCO course. For those interested in participating, please reach out to Marianne Arab at [email protected].
The Essence of Palliative Care within Supportive Programs
Palliative care is fundamental to supportive care programs, aiming to enhance the quality of life for patients and their families confronting the challenges associated with life-limiting illnesses. It is a proactive approach that prevents and alleviates suffering through the early identification, thorough assessment, and comprehensive treatment of pain and other distressing issues – whether they are physical, psychosocial, or spiritual in nature.
Addressing the multifaceted aspects of suffering necessitates care that extends beyond physical symptoms. Palliative care adopts a collaborative, team-based approach to provide comprehensive support for patients and their caregivers. This encompasses addressing practical needs and offering bereavement counseling to families. Ultimately, it provides a robust support system to empower patients to live as actively and comfortably as possible throughout their illness journey.
Primary care teams and specialist teams outside of palliative care, such as oncology teams, all play a crucial role in delivering palliative care as part of supportive care programs. These teams can readily access specialized support from palliative care specialist teams for assistance with complex care planning and intricate symptom management. Physicians can easily make referrals to the palliative care team within their respective regions. For detailed information regarding palliative care teams in your area and guidance on making referrals, please consult the Palliative Care subject guide.
Palliative care services within supportive care programs may include:
- Facilitating informed decisions about treatment options, aligning care with patient values and preferences.
- Providing expert medical care to effectively manage pain and other distressing symptoms, whether patients are at home or in the hospital setting.
- Offering comprehensive end-of-life care, ensuring comfort and dignity in the final stages of life.
- Providing essential social, psychological, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and their families.
- Integrating music therapy as a complementary approach to enhance well-being and manage symptoms.
- Extending support to family members, friends, and caregivers, recognizing their vital role in the patient’s journey.
- Engaging trained volunteers to offer companionship and support to patients.
- Providing access to information and resources addressing financial, legal, and other practical concerns that may arise.
- Offering bereavement support to families to help them navigate grief and loss.
Relevant subject guides: For further in-depth information, refer to specialized subject guides related to palliative care and supportive care programs in Nova Scotia.
