History
The Department of Oncology, Regional Hospital West Jutland, in Denmark, was established in 2009. We serve patients in need of oncological treatment and/or palliative care covering an uptake area of app. 500.000 inhabitants. The department is organized into three divisions: An outpatient clinic, an inpatient clinic and a 12-bed hospital ward with six oncological and six palliative beds. In 2021, the department will move into a new and fully equipped regional hospital that is currently in its final phase of construction.
Profile
The Department provides evidence-based oncological and palliative care services complying with international and national standards and recommendations. We are committed to meeting the needs of patients and relatives in a timely manner characterized by continuity and flexibility. A patient-centered approach is a high-priority area in our department which is nationally acknowledged as being at the forefront when it comes to integrating patient-reported outcome measures in the daily clinic. We are guided by the principles of a holistic and multidisciplinary team approach. We coordinate our services with other parts of the health care system. We collaborate closely with general practitioners and community nurses in primary care, with other hospital departments in our region and with nearby hospices. We aim to improve our services continuously by striving to contribute to local, national and international educational and research initiatives in the fields of oncology and palliative care.
Specialities
The department provides medical oncological treatment for breast, colorectal, ovarian, pancreatic, and lung cancer. Specialized palliative care is provided irrespective of diagnosis. The department has 85 employees (nurses, physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, psychologists, associated dieticians, and administrative staff). There is a close collaboration with chaplain and pharmacists at the hospital. The consultants in oncology are specialized in medical oncology and/or radiotherapy. The consultants in palliative medicine represent various medical specialties including oncology, nephrology, pulmonology, general medicine, and social medicine.
Palliative and Supportive Care
The specialized palliative care team is a multidisciplinary team functioning as an integrated part of the department. Our approach to palliative care follows the principles outlined by the WHO and the IAHPC. Our aim is to improve quality of life of both patients and their relatives. All causes of distress and suffering are addressed whether they are physical, psychosocial, or spiritual in nature. We are dedicated to the aim of treating the patients as close to their home as possible. Homebased palliative care is offered during office hours, and access to care of inadequately relieved symptoms is available 24/7. We base our care on systematic symptom assessment and advance care planning. Needs of relatives and caregivers are also evaluated and met in a systematic manner.
Last update: March 2024
