History
Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL) is the second biggest Hospital complex in France. It federates 14 care centers around Lyon's agglomeration and employs 23 000 workers (5,000 physicians and 11,000 nurses).
Hospices Civils de Lyon Cancer Institute (IC-HCL) gathers all HCL facilities dedicated to cancer care. It cares for 15 000 cancer patients /year (solid tumors and hematologic cancers) and employs 350 persons (medical and non-medical staff involved in oncology, i.e. physicians, nurses, pathologists, biologists...).
The first HCL palliative care service, created in 1988, was a pioneer in France. HCL oncologists and the palliative care team have a well-established collaboration since more than 30 years. HCL palliative care unit is composed of two palliative care services. These units are dedicated to support the quality of life of every HCL patient, independently of its disease and disease stage.
Profile
HCL palliative care is composed of two inpatient units (Lyon Sud and Edouard Herriot) totalizing 32 beds.
Specialities
These units are mainly dedicated to cancer patients (70 to 90%).
In addition, the HCL palliative units offer guidance and advice on-site or by phone wherever and whenever needed.
Several mobile palliative care teams cover all HCL services to support physicians and healthcare teams in the management of symptoms of discomfort throughout the cancer disease.
Interaction between oncologists and the palliative unit team may occur at any time along the cancer care continuum from diagnosis to the end of life. Palliative care physicians participate in the Multidisciplinary Consultation Meetings of the oncology departments.
Palliative and Supportive Care
HCL provides a holistic approach to support patients suffering from a serious or life-threatening disease. Palliative care can begin at any point during cancer care and is not restricted to patients for which curative treatment is no longer an option.
At HCL palliative care units, an integrative approach based on a mix of traditional and alternative medicines is proposed to help patients handling pain. Acupuncture, hypnosis, sophrology, and osteopathy in addition to usual traditional medicine (e.g. opioid painkiller) are proposed. Activities such as art therapy and music therapy are possible as well.
Psychological, social, and spiritual services are also proposed to patients and their families to prepare for the end-of-life, including a home-stay project.
HCL palliative care units also provide training activities for patients, their family and the medical staff to better understand the dying process and be better prepared.
For patients hospitalized outside of the palliative ward, especially in oncology units, a mobile palliative team including psychologists may be proposed. In addition, the above-mentioned facilities (non-conventional medicine) or activities are also available in these units. Finally, HCL proposes chaplaincy services with several religions represented, available at any time, in every unit.
Last update: September 2021
