Palliative care is an approach that helps alleviate the suffering of cancer patients and survivors. However, it is not limited to patients suffering from untreatable cancer, as it aims to provide the best possible quality of life in all stages of treatment.
Palliative care includes:
- Treating pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and other symptoms associated with the disease or treatment
- Treating depression and anxiety
- Improving the vital, psychological, social, and spiritual functions of patients and their families
- Caring for patients during advanced stages of the disease
- Offering help to patients and their families in making important decisions regarding their clinical care
KHCC palliative care services:
- Palliative Medical Consultations
The palliative care team provides medical advice to treat and alleviate the patient's symptoms. The patient remains under the supervision of the medical team when receiving chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, or other treatment, while the palliative care team helps alleviate the symptoms that may accompany the treatment. - Palliative Care Unit & In-patient Service
The palliative care team provides comprehensive medical care to treat and alleviate the patient's symptoms, under the supervision of the interdisciplinary palliative care team. The unit ensures the maximum level of comfort for the patient and provides more flexibility in familial visits. In the event that there are not enough beds at the unit, the team follows up with patients on other floors until they are discharged. - Outpatient Clinics
The palliative care clinics operates throughout the week, and patients are received according to pre-set dates. In the event that the patient is unable to come to the clinic on the appointment due to movement or mobility difficulties, a first-degree family member can attend on their behalf, provided that they are fully aware of the patient’s condition. In such a case, the patient can also benefit from the home care program. - Home Care Service
The home care team coordinates regular visits to patients in their homes according to medical need, in cooperation with the palliative care team that provides treatment, advice, and psychological support to the patient and their family. The visit is supervised by a medical team from KHCC, and the patient’s family visits the home care office to receive medicine, medical supplies and prescriptions as needed. - Medical Device Lending Program
Some patients may require the presence of medical devices and equipment at home, such as an oxygen concentrator, a medical bed, or mobility aids.
In the event that the patient is financially unable to obtain the required devices, they can benefit from the equipment lending program (for details, please contact the treating team).
Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program
This program is designed to provide participants with two years of experience in Palliative Care. They will gain clinical skills through practice in hospital clinics and the home care program, in addition to attending high-quality lectures and training modules and participating in research activities and workshops. The fellowship program is accredited by the Jordanian Medical Council.
Department Faculty
Dr. Omar Shamieh, Consultant, & Chairman of Palliative Medicine Department
Dr. Mahmoud Abu Nasser, Oncology and Cancer Consultant
Ammar Shihadeh, Palliative Care Physician
Samar Alrahma, Palliative Care Physician
Bassam Ismael, Palliative Care Physician
Mohammad Alnemer, Palliative Care Fellow
Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Team
Palliative care at KHCC is delivered by a team of dedicated and well-trained palliative care professionals including doctors, nurses, clinical pharmacists, psychologists and social workers, (as well as a spiritual advisor on demand) who are part of the palliative interdisciplinary team. The team members conduct comprehensive patient assessments and work together to design a holistic and patient-centered care plan to manage the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families.