The University Hospital of Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona has set up the multidisciplinary outpatient clinic for Palliative and Simultaneous Care. It is the first health facility in the Marche Region to offer an increasingly fundamental service that provides for the integration of active oncological therapies and palliative care. In fact, according to a recent study conducted in the health facility, half of cancer patients, coming from the emergency room, complain of uncontrolled pain. The PDTA (Diagnostic Therapeutic and Assistance Path) was also activated for the Nutritional Management in the Oncological Patient, developed by oncologists and nutritionists under the coordination of Dr. Roberto Papa (Director of the SOSD Quality, Clinical Risk, Management and Technological Innovation). The new document aims to prevent and treat malnutrition in cancer patients, reduce the side effects of anticancer therapy, allowing greater adherence to treatment protocols both in terms of dose intensity and interval of administration and to improve the quality of life. .
“The outpatient clinic for palliative and simultaneous care provides for the treatment of cancer patients through a multidisciplinary approach – says Rossana Berardi, Director of the Oncology Clinic of the Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona, Full Professor of Oncology at the Polytechnic University of Marche -. The goal is to set up or implement supportive therapy in order to improve their path both in the active phase of oncological treatments, to maintain the right timing of chemotherapy treatments and toxicity management, and in the palliative phase, in which it is important to focus on the person, more than on the disease. The service was welcomed with the satisfaction of patients and will allow a better overall management of the same, also allowing a reduction in improper access to the emergency room and long-term stays for problems that could be manageable even at home, especially given the difficulties of the current pandemic period. Once again the team approach is effective. In addition to the health benefits, this new model of taking charge is making it possible to strengthen research activities in the university environment, also thanks to the precious support of the L’Abbraccio OdV association of Montegranaro, belonging to the regional network of oncological associations of Marcangola, which it has stimulated us to pursue the important objective of promoting research, training and assistance in this important sector ”.
“With conviction, as a hospital, we undertake a new paradigm of assistance and care that does not stop at diagnostics and specific cancer therapy, but includes pain therapy among the tools for taking care of and treating cancer patients, nutrition and integrated therapies – underlines Michele Caporossi – General Manager Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona -. Never as today, after the pandemic, is it right to leave the old scheme of the Health System which only gives pharmacological or surgical services and approach the daily life of people who can heal better if we use all the tools with practical effectiveness “. “The establishment of the Simultaneous Care Clinic in our University Hospital is part of the new vision of oncology in recent years: the cancer patient is at the center of the system – says Marcello D’Errico – Dean of the University of Medicine and Surgery Polytechnic of Marche -. This clinic represents a further step forward in this path of humanization of care that our hospital has been carrying out for several years and which I am sure will further contribute to relieving the physical and emotional burden of our patients and their families and improving their quality of life ” .
“The goal of the multidisciplinary activity is to offer the patient the best knowledge, the best skills, the most appropriate and most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies – underlines Albano Nicolai – SOS Director of Dietetics and Nutrition AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona -. In summary, the patient is welcomed in a complex path in which, however, he never feels lost, on the contrary he feels welcomed and notes a perfect coordination of the treatment plan where he too can take an active role. This organization also benefits the treating physician who participates in the diagnostic-therapeutic management and receives all the necessary information at the time of re-entrustment “.
“With the increase in the survival of the cancer patient thanks to the measures of sensitization, prevention, early diagnosis and increasingly efficient oncological treatments, the profile of our patients has changed considerably – adds Umberto Maria Ripani – SODS Director of Pain Therapy AOU Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona -. To date, modern pain medicine aims at the best analgesia while maintaining the patient’s performance as much as possible. This means patients who are less sedated and with the possibility of still carrying out, despite the underlying disease, a job, practicing light physical activity or having a decent social life. This passes from a constant optimization of analgesic therapy which exploits, today more than ever, the use of adjuvant drugs aimed at a synergistic effect so as to reduce opioid dosages “. “The major limitation we have registered in these years of activity as volunteers in hospice is the homologation of palliative care with end of life, loss of hope, end of care – concludes Luciano Pini, President of the L’Abbraccio OdV association -. The simultaneous care outpatient clinic will bring the experience, practice and culture of palliative care as synergistic and integrated to the entire treatment path “.