AEGiS-11IAC: Integrating AIDS palliative care: person, place, and time.

11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

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Integrating AIDS palliative care: person, place, and time.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:223 (abstract no. Th.B.191)
Lobb DJ, Kuhl D, Fraser J, Costley-White K, Cummings M; Palliative Care Unit, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Fax: 604-631-5229.

ISSUE: There is a great need for integrated palliative care services for persons living with AIDS.

PROJECT: There has always been question regarding when does palliative care begin, where is it best provided and who should receive it? An integrative palliative care unit for persons with AIDS and cancer was begun in 1989 in a tertiary care hospital in Vancouver, Canada. This program provides in-hospital symptom management, respite care, outpatient clinics and liaison with a community home care program. The program is based on a patient and family centred model of care and staffed by an interdisciplinary team consisting of physicians, nurses, social workers, physio, occupational and music therapists, a pharmacist, pastoral care and many volunteers.

RESULTS: This palliative care program has been successful in providing services to over 1500 patients since it opened. In addition to its patient care services, members of the health care team provide education to the medical community and the public about symptom management, bereavement and the continuum of care for persons living with AIDS. The integration of AIDS and cancer has been very valuable for most patients. Through studying pain patterns in persons with AIDS we have been able to identify the most common types of pain and have been better able to provide specific therapy.

LESSONS LEARNED: The palliative care program has grown considerably in the past 7 years in response to the varying needs of persons living with AIDS. We have recognized the importance of providing a continuum of care, the benefits of integrating AIDS and cancer, the necessity of ongoing education, and the need to identify and treat appropriately the many symptoms that arise in persons living with AIDS.

Keywords: AEGIS, Palliative Care, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Home Care Services, Neoplasms, Social Work, Patient Care Team, Voluntary Workers, Pain, Nurses, Hospitals, Physicians, Canada, Human, education, ICA11KWDaegis,palliativecare,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,homecareservices,neoplasms,socialwork,patientcareteam,voluntaryworkers,pain,nurses,hospitals,physicians,canada,human,education,ica11

960707
ThB191

Copyright © 1996 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.