Palliative Care in the Republic of Croatia as a Public Health Problem

Kao što postoji zdravstvena skrb pri izlječenju tako je potrebna skrb i u završnoj fazi života. Kad se vidi da medicinski tretmani ne mogu više dovesti do izlječenja potrebno je osigurati pacijentu dostojanstven i bezbolan odlazak. Spokoj na kraju života donosi mir i pacijentu i njegovoj obitelji što pokazuje kolika je važnost palijativne njege. Usprkos današnjoj tehnologiji i napretku svih znanosti pa tako i medicine još uvijek postoje stanja i bolesti koje se ne mogu izliječiti. Kada osoba prođe sve metode liječenja te iste nisu dale učinka i kada pacijent i njegova obitelj to stanje teško podnose tada se primjenjuje palijativna skrb. Razvijanje mreže palijativne skrbi bi trebalo omogućiti mirnu i ljudsku smrt kod bolesnika sa teškim bolestima. Jako je važna timska suradnja stručnjaka u provođenju palijativne skrbi. Medicinske sestre zauzimanju posebno mjesto, obzirom da se njihova profesija temelji na holističkom pristupu, zadovljavanju ljudskih potreba, postizanjem samostalnosti, komunikacijom, te pružanjem podrške obiteljima. Strateški plan razvoja palijativne skrbi u Hrvatskoj predviđa uspostavljanje organizacije palijativne skrbi kroz nekoliko različitih modela od kojih su najvažniji županijski koordinacijski centri palijativne skrbi, te stacionarna skrb po županijama. Specijalizirana palijativna skrb je treća razina palijativne skrbi i trebaju je pružati profesionalci, a to podrazumijeva stacionarne jedinice palijativne skrbi, hospicijski dnevni boravci, bolnice u kući, bolnički te mobilni timovi za palijativnu skrb.Just as there is health care during recovery, care is also needed in the final phase of life. When it is seen that medical treatments can no longer lead to a cure, it is necessary to ensure a dignified and painless departure for the patient. Peace at the end of life brings peace to both the patient and his family, which shows the importance of palliative care. Despite today's technology and the progress of all sciences, including medicine, there are still conditions and diseases that cannot be cured. When a person has gone through all the treatment methods and they did not work, and when the patient and his family can hardly bear the condition, then palliative care is applied. Developing a network of palliative care should enable a peaceful and humane death for patients with serious and incurable diseases. The team cooperation of experts is very important in the implementation of palliative care. Nurses occupy a special place, given that their profession is based on a holistic approach, meeting human needs, achieving independence, communication, and providing support to families. The strategic plan for the development of palliative care in Croatia envisages the establishment of a palliative care organization through several different organizational models, the most important of which are county palliative care coordination centers and inpatient care by county. Specialized palliative care is the third level of palliative care and should be provided by professionals, which includes inpatient palliative care units, hospice day care centers, home hospitals, hospital and mobile palliative care teams