ESMO Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care
| Contact person | Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hellmut Samonigg |
| Address | Division of Oncology with affiliated Unit of Palliative Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine Auenbruggerplatz 20 8036 Graz |
| Country |
Austria |
| Contact | Tel: +43 316-385-13115 - hellmut(dot)samonigg(at)medunigraz(dot)at |
| Web |
History
The Division of Oncology was founded in 1992 and offers the whole spectrum of modern diagnostics and evidence based therapy for adult patients with cancer. In the early 1990s the ward was rebuilt by the artist F. Hundertwasser, who created an atmosphere of security by utilizing bright, warm and vivid colours, light and plants. The Unit of Palliative Medicine as affiliated unit to the Division of Oncology was founded in 2001 as the first palliative ward including a palliative consulting service for patients in Austria.
Profile
The centre consists of two separate wards, which are located in the University hospital of Graz. The first ward belongs to the Division of Oncology at the Department of Internal Medicine with 27 beds.
The second ward is the ward of the Unit of Palliative Medicine with 12 beds, from which 4 are single-bed rooms and 4 rooms are double bed rooms.
- The interdisciplinary team at the Division of Oncology consists of 17.5 physicians, 3 psychologists, 22 nurses and 6.5 secretaries; whereas the interdisciplinary team at the Unit of Palliative Medicine has 7 physicians, 2 psychologists, 1 physical therapist, 20 nurses, 3.25 secretaries and 1.75 social workers.
- Both wards are equipped with the standard technical equipment for internal medicine wards in Austria (e.g. ultrasound machines, monitoring systems, ECG ...).
- The Division of Oncology has an outpatient clinic as well, which takes care of about 90 patients per day.
- The patients have access to inpatient services, such as the palliative consulting service and the 2 wards and outpatient services such as the Mobile Palliative Team and the outpatient clinic from the division of Oncology. Psychologists, physical therapists and social workers are integral parts in both services. Furthermore, since this integrated centre is part of the University hospital of Graz, patients have rapid access to all different departments if this is needed.
Specialities
The centralised management of the Division of Oncology and the Unit of Palliative Medicine by one head of these two institutes guarantees integrated oncology and palliative care. As soon as the need of a patient for palliative care has been recognized by the oncologist, he/she has to request a consultation of a specialist for palliative care. This consultation will result either in professional palliative care support by specific recommendations or, if necessary, the patient will be admitted to the affiliated Unit of Palliative Medicine and will receive in-patient treatment. Additionally, the patient has the possibility to register for home care support by the “Mobile Palliative Team”.
