History
St. Josefs Hospital was founded in 1861 as an orphanage. Since 1872 the Hospital was under the auspices of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Borromeo. It has provided specialised inpatient cancer care since the 1960s and outpatient cancer care since the 1980s. Outpatient palliative care was established in 2007. The inpatient Palliative Care Team has been part of any palliative treatment and care for inpatients since 2008. The Team has been a member of the Palliative Care Network Potsdam since 2009. We have offered specialised pain management for cancer patients since 2009. Additionally, there has been an interdisciplinary Palliative Service since 2016, extending the delivery of palliative care to patients in all departments of St. Josefs Hospital. In 2020 an independent Palliative Care unit was established.
Profile
The Medical Clinic comprises Departments of Cardiology, Haematology/Oncology and Palliative Care, Gastroenterology and Diabetology. The Department of Haematology/Oncology and Palliative Care offers treatment for the full range of oncologic and haematologic diseases with a focus on solid tumours and gastrointestinal cancer. An Outpatient treatment centre is closely attached, with more than 1,200 patients being treated each year. The Palliative Care Team and Palliative Care Service comprise of psychooncology, pain specialists, oncologists, specialist nurses, nutritional support, social services, pastoral care and physiotherapists. Palliative Care training is provided continuously for nurses, doctors and students. Weekly Tumour Boards and Pain Boards are well established.
Specialities
We established a Gastrointestinal Cancer Centre in 2008. In addition, we initiated the first specialised outpatient treatment for patients with gastrointestinal cancer Ambulante Spezialfachärztliche Versorgung (ASV) in Brandenburg. The Oncology Unit is a member of the Potsdam Tumour board and Palliative Care Network, Potsdam. Hereditary cancers receive specialist diagnosis and treatment, in addition, we established specialised Pain Management for tumour patients on an inpatient and outpatient basis.
Palliative and Supportive Care
All patients are screened at admission for specialist need of palliative treatment and care. The palliative care team is on call 24 hours. Detailed palliative treatment schedules for each patient are established within the first 24 hours of admission. Care is given by a team of specially trained nurses and physicians, being supported by a multi-professional team of palliative caregivers. There are weekly team meetings where all inpatients are discussed and strategies of care are fixed. Inpatient palliative care is continued by the ambulant care teams without delay or loss of information due to the close interaction between the Palliative Care Service and the Specialised Ambulant Palliative Care (SAPV). The team is supported holistically by clinic clowns, volunteers, delivering desired food (Genußteam) and the Potsdam ambulatory hospice service.
Last update: July 2024
