Ming-Hsiung Wang, Chen, Yi-Ching Chen
Since the establishment of the hospice ward, it has been our main purpose to take care terminal patients with cancer, and has gradually extended to non-cancer patients. We hope that we can give end-stage patient and their family with body, mind and spirit care with the idea of “a whole person, a whole family, a whole team, a whole course and a whole community”. Therefore, in addition to full-time physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, dieticians, physical therapist, and other professionals, our team also has clergy and volunteers which giving overall care for the terminal patients at the same time.
Through the cooperation with Taiwan Academy of Hospice Palliative Medicine, Taiwan Association of Hospice Palliative Nursing, and other hospice care institutions, we actively train the professionals who are interested in palliative medicine. Also we learn from the clinical experience and academic theories to enhance hospice care skill continuously. On the other hand, localized clinical research is conducted to ensure that our patients are properly treated. Through continuous study and research, our goal is to achieve the perfection of hospice care, providing the most comfortable service and care. Which ensures our patient can safely complete the final journey of life. We also dedicated to help the family to understand the concept of death, reducing psychological fear about the patient’s death. Forming strong bound between the family and the patient. And we provide counseling for sadness and sorrow for the families of dying patients.
The Hospice and Palliative care team members discuss the goals of care with the patients and their families whenever needed. Psychological and spiritual care would also included. During discussion, we guarantee that the patients and their families have complete autonomy and respect the will of the patient. Meanwhile, our team members are also required to provide complete care of according to the 5-W (Whole-person, Whole-family, Whole-team, Whole-time and Whole-community) and 3 peace principle (Physical peace, psychological peace and spiritual peace). We accompany with patients and their families in the final stages of life. The Hospice Palliative care mode includes: 1. hospice combined care, 2. hospital ward care, 3. hospice home care, 4. hospice clinic, 5. telephone consultation, 6. other hospital referral service.
At September 1, 2009, eight types of non-cancer critically ill patients can also receive hospice care services with National Health Insurance. As long as the patient or the family could meet the requirement as follows: 1. the patient or family agrees to receive hospice care and signs the consent form of Hospice Palliative (necessary requirement). 2. Terminal patients: (1) patients with terminal cancer, (2) patients with terminal motor neuron disease, (3) those who are diagnosed as the following diseases and have entered the terminal stage: 1 Senile and pre-senile organic psychotic conditions 2.Other brain metamorphism, 3.Heart failure, 4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 5.Other lung diseases, 6.Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, 7.Acute renal failure, 8.Chronic renal failure. Through applying the concept of Hospice Palliative care, we will continue to improve the quality of medicinal care for cancer and non-cancer patients.
The “Patient Right to Autonomy Act” officially implemented on January 6, 2019. This is the first law especially designed for patients’ rights in Asia. There are 19 articles in the Act. The point is that people with full capacity can make the advance directives through advanced care planning. Which provide the right to accept or refuse medical interventions such as life-sustaining medical care, artificial nutrition and fluid feeding under fully informed consent. We will help the patients to clarify issues such as ethics, professional judgment, and faith. We hope to give patients better quality of care with dignity. We believe that through the promotion and practice, the concept of “good death” can be more popular in the future.