【Learning points】
- Living with your illness, having serious or life-limiting illnesses can affect many areas of your day-to-day life, all inpatients in our hospital can be referred to accept palliative care consultation (hospice shared-care).
- A request for palliative care consultation should be made by your doctor, your needs will be assessed by the palliative care team. During Office hours, you can call a palliative care consultant nurse. TEL: 04-23592525, ext. 3860 or 3861.
Living with your illness
Having serious or life-limiting illnesses can affect many areas of your day-to-day life. You might have a variety of physical distress, such as pain, breathlessness, vomit, nausea, oedema, and so on. You might also need to face the financial impact and try to come to terms with the reality of your life expectancy. At the same time, a range of emotions might be experienced, such as anger, fear, depression, hopelessness and even guilt. At times you might feel sad and depressed; at times you might have a sense of hope. All these feelings are normal, understood and respected and we are here in your corner to support you every step of the way.
Palliative care consultation / Hospice shared-care
All inpatients in our hospital can be referred to accept palliative care consultation (hospice shared-care), when it is needed. Our palliative care team works in partnership with other professionals involved in your care. We will visit you in your ward and tailor an individual care plan according to your needs and preference.
Our goal is to achieve the best quality of life for you and your families.
We will provide treatment and care to address some of the physical, emotional or existential issues you may face. Supporting you to live life to the full and maintaining your dignity and independence until the very end of life is what we are concerned most with. This service is free of charge if your hospitalization cost is covered by National Health Insurance.
Our services
Palliative care consultation service includes:
- Cooperating with your doctor and other professionals to tailor an individual care plan for you.
- Assessing your physical, psychological-existential needs and providing relevant treatment.
- Providing specific interventions to ease your distress, e.g. mouth care, lymph oedema care.
- Supporting you and your family through emotional difficulties including bereavement care.
- Offering information and advice regarding daily care, medical treatment, illness prognosis or complementary therapy.
- Helping you and your family make medical decisions regarding withdrawal/withholding treatment, and a do-not- resuscitate (DNR).
- Referral to other services, if needed.
How to access?
A request for palliative care consultation should be made by your doctor. After that, your needs will be assessed by the palliative care team. If you have any queries and would like to have an opportunity to discuss any related issues, you can drop-in to the reception desk in the palliative care inpatient unit to see how we can help and support you.
Contact us
During Office hours, you can call a palliative care consultant nurse. TEL: 04-23592525, ext. 3860 or 3861
During out-of-work hours, you can contact the inpatient palliative care unit to leave your messages.
TEL: 04-23592525, ext. 8116 or 8117
Our address
Taichung Veterans General Hospital Inpatient Palliative Care Unit: 11F, 2nd Medical Building, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung, Taiwan 40705, ROC.