A 10-year ESMO designated center program. Meandering or preparing the way?

作者：Kloke M^*

来源：Onkologe, 2013, 19(4): 307-313.

DOI：10.1007/s00761-012-2412-x

• Palliative care
• Oncology
• Integration
• Core skills
• End-of-life care

The integration of palliative care and oncology conceptualized as early integration as well as a prerequisite for the continuity of care and non-abandonment of patients is considered to be a core requirement in oncology. National and international societies and initiatives defined minimal standards for the provision of palliative care addressing issues of staff education, structure and organization. Nevertheless, serious deficits can be detected in day to day practice in the provision of palliative care for patients receiving cancer therapy, for post-therapy patients and in end-of-life care.
The designated center program was initiated 10 years ago by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) as an incentive for oncology departments and cancer centers to increase efforts to implement palliative care at least on a qualified level into routine work. This program turned out to be effective in promoting the idea of integration. The precisely formulated and relevant accreditation criteria act as a road map for the centers in the process of integration. In 2012 a total of 127 designated centers were accredited.
The designated center program can be considered as a key enabler for modern oncology and a working group of the 26 German-speaking designated centers has been established in order to analyze the efficacy and to promote the concept of integration.

• 出版日期2013-4