Professional paper
Current state of palliative care in Croatia
Morana Brkljačić
; polyclinic “Sveti Rok M. D.”, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
After explanation of terms of palliative medicine and
palliative care, the development of hospice movement in Croatia
is presented as well as the establishment of The Croatian Society
for Hospice and Palliative Medicine within the Croatian Medical
Association. The framework for the organization of palliative
care is introduced according to the Health Care Act, by which
The Institution for Palliative Care is defined. The Institution
encompasses the clinic for pain and palliative care, day care
and palliative interdisciplinary team for home visits consisting
of a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, social
worker specially trained to approach the dying and spiritual
guide (chaplain). Although it is not included in the system of
compulsory health insurance, there is still interest of health
care policy in palliative care. The addressees are presented
as well as the forms of palliative care (home hospice care; day
hospice care; clinics/counselling centres for palliative care, and
for pain; bereavement services). In the final part the first hospice
in Croatia, “Marija Krucifiksa Kozulić” in Rijeka, is presented,
established by the Archdiocese of Rijeka.
Keywords
palliative care; hospice; health care organization
Hrčak ID:
112245
URI
Publication date:
17.12.2013.
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