PD Dr.ssa med. Tanja Fusi-Schmidhauser
T. Fusi-Schmidhauser: The value of collaboration between institutions.
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Knowledge is not born in the void. No great discovery, no revolution in thought or practice has ever occurred in solitude. Medicine is no exception: research and clinic, those who teach and those who treat, must talk to each other so that knowledge is useful and does not remain a sterile academic exercise. But how, in reality, is this continuous exchange constructed? Who is in charge of translating theory into practice so that the quality of care really improves?
In Ticino, one demonstration of the benefits of synergy is the 20-year collaboration between the EOC Palliative and Supportive Care Clinic and SUPSI Continuing Education. Almost a cultural model of an alliance between institutions that invests in continuing education to concretely improve the quality of care. This synergy has resulted in projects that have already trained dozens of physicians and healthcare professionals, improving the quality of care in the area.
“We could not do our clinical work without constant training and a reliable partner like SUPSI,” explains PD Dr. med. Tanja Alessandra Fusi-Schmidhauser, head of the EOC Palliative and Supportive Care Clinic. “The more a figure is trained, the more they are aware of palliative needs and able to identify them. This fundamentally changes the way patients are taken care of.”
In Ticino, one demonstration of the benefits of synergy is the 20-year collaboration between the EOC Palliative and Supportive Care Clinic and SUPSI Continuing Education. Almost a cultural model of an alliance between institutions that invests in continuing education to concretely improve the quality of care. This synergy has resulted in projects that have already trained dozens of physicians and healthcare professionals, improving the quality of care in the area.
“We could not do our clinical work without constant training and a reliable partner like SUPSI,” explains PD Dr. med. Tanja Alessandra Fusi-Schmidhauser, head of the EOC Palliative and Supportive Care Clinic. “The more a figure is trained, the more they are aware of palliative needs and able to identify them. This fundamentally changes the way patients are taken care of.”
What is the concrete impact of Continuing Education on clinical practice?
“We have trained dozens of family physicians, specialists, oncologists, cardiologists, and pharmacists on the importance of palliative care in their daily practice. The training has made it possible to overcome the misconception that palliative care is only for the terminal phase: today we know that it must be integrated early to improve patients' quality of life.”How do we combat the stigma that sees palliative care as surrender?
“It is one of the biggest challenges. Palliative care does not mean 'stop caring,' but better care (...) I always invite the most skeptical to observe the daily work on the wards: that's where you really understand the value of this approach.”
What is the most pressing challenge for the future of palliative care?
“Making access equitable for everyone, including neglected populations and those with chronic non-oncologic diseases. We are working to develop strategies that allow everyone to receive the palliative care they need, without barriers.”