14 October 2009

Medicos team up at Whole Person Care National Symposium

Caring for patients and families who face a life threatening or terminal illness would be daunting for most of us, but for those health professionals who deal with life and death situations every day – it can be very stressful.

St George Hospital’s Director of Cancer Services, Professor John Kearsley and Palliative Care Physician at St George and Calvary Hospitals, Dr Judith Lacey are Co-Convenors of a major two-day National Symposium for clinicians who work with patients with a life threatening or terminal illness.

Professor Kearsley and Dr Lacey said the Whole Person Care National Symposium will introduce the concept of ‘whole person care’ to improve both the patients’ and the professionals’ well being.

“Every day we respond to patients with life threatening illnesses – this is a unique and challenging situation for health professionals,” Professor Kearsley and Dr Lacey said.

“Our patients want the benefit of our knowledge and expert diagnostic and procedural skills, yet the way we communicate and connect with our patients in their distress is equally important to them.

“With the heavy demands of our work, we may have little time to reflect regularly on how we can make a difference in these stressful situations – there is very limited time to reflect on our own practice – ourselves.”

There will be a host of international and national speakers at the Symposium including Professor Harvey Max Chochinov (Professor of Psychiatry), from Canada, and renowned author Dr Stephanie Dowrick.

Topics include aspects of hope, dignity conserving care, meaning making, the clinician as healer, burnout, clinician self-care and the interaction of the health service and health provider.

“The target audience will include health care workers involved in the care of patients with life-threatening or terminal illnesses including medical and radiation oncologists, general practitioners, palliative care specialists, surgeons and physicians.

“This is the first symposium in this field to be held in Australia, and we hope that it will be the first of many more activities to come.”

The Whole Person Care National Symposium will be held at the Swiss Grand Bondi Beach on 30 and 31 October. Bookings and information: 8282 0544.


Media Enquiries: Maxine Brennan, 9113 2601, 0413 028 776