History
AVAPO Venezia has been active with its volunteers in the Medical Oncology Department since 1988.
In 1998 AVAPO Venezia and the Medical Oncology Department launched a home care assistance project. Subsequently the Board of Management of ULSS 12 (now ULSS 3) (local health and social care services) and AVAPO Venezia formalised a protocol in order to provide home care assistance to advanced and terminal cancer patients who live in the territory of the Venetian lagoon.
The Palliative Care Unit (PCU), AVAPO Venezia - NCP, serves a population of about 90.000 inhabitants, in an area characterised by complex geography, difficult logistics, and mostly by fragile elderly persons. AVAPO Venezia - NCP is part of the main Palliative care unit (CPCU), a network of individual units (PCU) operating in the territory of AULSS 3, established in the entire territory of the Venice lagoon and in Mestre and coordinated by a physician expert in palliative care.
Profile
The Oncology Department operates in 2 hospitals in the Venetian region in which nearly 300.000 people reside: SS. Giovanni e Paolo in Venice and Angelo in Mestre.
The Functional Department includes: Medical Oncology, Radiotherapy, Hematology, Medical Physics, Nuclear Medicine Pathology and Pain Therapy.
At the Venice hospital the Oncology Unit has 8 inpatient beds at this time. The outpatient activity includes first evaluation of new patients, medical therapy decision and administration in different stages of the disease, multidisciplinary tumor boards and follows up. The Medical Oncologist, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, refers the patient to the Palliative Care Unit (PCU) through a comprehensive discussion about course of illness and patient's needs. If needed the Centre requests an assessment by other specialists (Radiation Oncologist, Pain Therapist, Psychiatrist, Physiotherapist and Dietitian).
Specialities
The staff of PCU/AVAPO Venezia consists of a multidisciplinary team: three doctors skilled in P. C., three Clin. Psychologists(skilled in psycho-oncology, Thanatology and Psychotherapy), Nurses, Hospital attendants and AVAPO Volunteers.
- The centre provides routine patient assessment of physical and psychological symptoms and social support
- A high-level home care with expert back up and coordination of home care with primary cancer clinicians
- An improved quality of medical services via utilisation of a portable ultrasound instrument and automated patient files recording available to all the PCU team
- To support patients and relatives during home care assistance and in the bereavement period
- Clinical research
- Teaching activity
Palliative and Supportive Care
Complex needs are identified by oncologists in hospital for inpatients and outpatients and by PCU doctors for patients treated at home. Complex needs are shared and discussed by the PCU multidisciplinary team during their meetings every two weeks.
All members of PCU are trained in palliative care topics.All members of AVAPO Venezia share regular educational activity in national and local meetings and courses with members of other teams in the local palliative care network. In this way clinical attitudes are shared and discussed.
Staff attention is reinforced in particular clinical situations: difficult management of pain, palliative sedation, intractable dyspnoea and delirium. Specific protocols are used in such cases. Simultaneous care is offered to symptomatic patients in active treatment.
Last update: January 2024
