“The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts”

Over 100 people participated in the study day, entitled "The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts", which discussed the role of health professions – physiotherapy, nutrition, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical psychology, in helping patients who are coping with incurable illnesses.

This important study day was organized by the Director of the Physical Therapy Service, Yael Kirbs, and the Palliative Care nurse at Hillel Yaffe, Shelley Rado. The day began with greetings from Director of Hillel Yaffe Medical Center Dr. Mickey Dudkiewicz and palliative care specialist Dr. Roni Sabar, who serves as advisor on this issue to the Medical Center. Both noted the importance of holding professional study days so as to improve the connection between the hospital and the community, and of course emphasized guidance for the patient and his family who are coping with difficult moments, to ease their suffering with means that are not necessarily medicinal, and about the complex work, involving both body and soul, required in this field of medicine.

The staff who organized the study day from the Physical Therapy Service and the Palliative Care Service

These talks were followed by a variety of fascinating lectures by physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, and social workers, who discussed the challenges facing them in the field of palliative care. About issues such as: The place of physiotherapy in improving the palliative patient’s quality of life and functioning, emphases and challenges in palliative social work, and providing support for the patient and his family, dilemmas regarding dietary treatment for palliative patients, and more. The day ended with a panel of experts led by Shelley Rado.