Travel date: May 18, 2017
Name of Meeting/Event/Activity: 15th European Association Palliative Care Conference
Origin: Bogota, Colombia / Destination: Madrid, Spain
Attending the congress helped me to acquire new knowledge and to be up-to-date on the research being done, also have the opportunity to meet colleagues from other countries and the way they are developing their work, this exchange is very enriching and generates a support network And exchange of experiences and support among professionals; This gives me many experiences to share in Colombia and where I do my work.
Although interdisciplinary and integral work is important in the area of health, palliative care is indispensable; In my work as a physiotherapist now after the congress I have new scientific arguments to promote my work in hospice and in specific programs such as geriatrics, given that in Colombia has not yet included in the Palliative Care team physiotherapy or palliative care To older adults. The new knowledge and skills acquired open the door to new opportunities for patients and their families, optimizing the treatment at home to reduce hospitalizations, I am more aware of the importance of sensitizing the family and citizenship not to leave those who suffer alone, Further personalize the treatments taking into account preferences, promote with greater emphasis the advance planning of palliative care, I have learned that it is a dynamic process writing the living will and according to the changes of the patient and their priorities should be raised the update . I feel more enthusiastic and wise to continue this great work that unites us, thanks for the IAHPC opportunity, I am very happy to have met them and to be part of this association.
According to my experience with the Scholarship I have felt how they have covered every detail that is needed, the emails are answered immediately when you have a question, you can see the teamwork and the effectiveness of it.
From my many years of experience as a Physiotherapist in Colombia, working in both urban and rural areas, I have realized that the main needs I face in my country are: • In palliative care units there is no physiotherapist, • Palliative care for the elderly is minimal, • Rural areas and intermediate cities are totally unprotected from palliative care, • There is ignorance on the part of the population in the country on what are and for what they serve palliative care, • Health professionals working in PCs should learn to recognize early symptoms to avoid suffering to patients and their families. And the challenges for me are to join an interdisciplinary team and to encourage my fellow physiotherapists to train in palliative care, it is my desire to turn the above-named needs into challenges in order to solve them and provide a service that generates well-being, compassion and quality of life to The Colombian population. I have learned from this Congress that palliative care should be made visible in a positive way, where VS innovation is encouraged, as it generates a benefit for patients and their families as well as for those who work in CP; This will change the reality in my country.