Giving quality of life to patients needing care

MANILA, Philippines - When a patient goes through a life-long illness, it’s no longer just about physical pain alone. Patients also have to face their condition on the mental and emotional levels. Things even get more complicated once family issues arise. With all the complexities involved in dealing with life-long illnesses, it’s imperative that a medical institution is equipped to handle such delicate matters.

With this in mind, the Philippines’ premier health institution Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) promotes palliative care, a holistic approach to healthcare that looks after the psychological, emotional, mental, spiritual, and even the economic well-being of patients to help prevent and relieve suffering. Palliative care acknowledges that pain does not just refer to the physical kind, and that patients must also be looked after in terms of their emotional, psychological, mental, spiritual, even economic well-being. With this, it helps patients, including their families, go through the process — in all aspects — with expert guidance.

According to Dr. Mari Joanne Guerzon-Joson of MakatiMed’s Department of Medicine, “Palliative care allows us to go beyond caring for the patient’s medical needs by also becoming active partners in their journey to recovery.”

Palliative care can start with an interdisciplinary meeting among doctors, the patient, and his family, to discuss various approaches that may be taken to best address the condition and situation of the patient. “We bring in the family and whoever is concerned. They are part of the decision-making, because it’s important for them to know and understand all their options; and for the patient, to have that feeling of being well-supported, as we don’t leave him deciding on his own,” explains Dr. Joson.

Dr. Eric Nubla Jr., director of patient relations at MakatiMed, notes that economic concerns also become an issue most of the time. Treatment and care for chronic patients can be financially draining for the family. “This is why MakatiMed gives patients the option to continue receiving care and treatment at home with its home care services,” he points out.

MakatiMed’s Home Care sends a team of doctors and nurses to the homes of patients to look after their needs. This team is always in close coordination with the hospital medical staff or the patient’s attending physician, in order to maintain the quality of care to be administered at home. “The home care service enables patients to recover in a more comfortable environment where they’re closer to their families while allowing them to save on hospital costs,” adds Dr. Nubla.

“Prevention and treatment are still top priorities in health care, but there’s a need to raise awareness on palliative care,” Dr. Joson points out. “Palliative care considers the bigger picture, which includes the patient and his family’s journey and wellness, in light of different possible outcomes,” she says.