Supportive Care Center
The Supportive Care Center provides comprehensive service for acute, chronic, and neural pain management. Specialized nurses give consultation and care focused on providing patients with relief from symptoms, pain, physical stress, and mental stress of illnesses.
Our Services are divided into:
1. Pain Management
2. Palliative Care
Apart from providing care for cancer patients our services incorporate other patients group which may include individuals with:
- Acute Pain
The Supportive Care Center provides consultation for patients who experience severe acute pain that lasts for less than 3 months. Service includes general acute pain, pain that occurs from complications after a surgery, and collaboration with other medical personnel with regards to pain management. The latter is especially applicable for treatment processes for what are considered Neuropathic Pain or Acute Herpetic Neuralgia, Pancreatitis, or any procedures that require a Nerve Block.
- Chronic Pain
This patient group includes individuals who experience pain that lasts for 3 months or more. The most common cases are people with chronic back pain. If initial non-surgical treatment or physical therapy is ineffective in relieving symptoms of pain your doctor may give you an Epidural Steroid (to reduce back pain). For patients with other types of pain such as those related to a vascular condition, such as narrowing of the arteries, a Sympathetic Block procedure may be required. The center also works closely to provide relief from nerve pain related to diabetic patients.
- Cancer Pain Syndrome refers to the different types of pain that a cancer patient may be expected to experience. The Supportive Care Center provides comprehensive care to provide pain relief at all stages of cancer. Once a patient is diagnosed, the first aspect that needs to be taken into consideration is the emotional impact on the patient. In cases of worry and depression, we provide a team of counselors who collaborate with oncologists throughout. For patients who experience pain in the back after surgery, chemotherapy, or who develop peritonitis (this pain generally lasts 1-2 weeks), a guideline is provided for care that may include intravenous medication and Patient Control Analgesia (PCA). This medication can be administered by the patient themselves or placed on a timer and injected automatically over time.
- In cases where the cancer has spread and the patient is in pain, the doctor will consult with the pain management team for ways to improve quality of life. This does not only include physical, but also mental and emotional aspects of care. Once these factors are identified care can be provided for example through various activities aimed at quality of life enhancement such as:
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- Guidance on attire after chemotherapy (hair loss) to encourage social participation
- Advice on healthy living and diet emphasizing anti-cancer properties
- Group Therapy sessions are available where participants share experiences, consultation, and support in a positive environment.
- Music and Art Therapy helps give cancer patients emotional support and relaxation. This activity can also be done at home.
- Family members or Care Givers are invited to join in the activities as part of the Think Positive Club
Relievment Care is provided in cases where a patient passes away, the hospital will continue to provide support for family members with regards to depression and other potential consequences. Palliative care takes into account physical, psychological, familial, and social factors when dealing with a Life Limiting Illness. Furthermore, for terminally ill patients steps will be taken to provide comfort leading up to a ‘Good Death’. Palliative Care consultation is available throughout the treatment process.
The Supportive Care Center provides holistic services that take into account physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of cancer care. The center has expertise in dealing with the specific facets of cancers and is supported by the latest in oncology technology. Patients can expect quality pain management throughout all procedures for both acute and chronic pain