Annual Report

Annual report of








Family Healthcare









Association






2017
2017

”Mary Potter”
















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offers palliative service for cancer patients in terminal stages, for the entire Korca region.The number of the

patients with advanced chronic diseases who need Palliative Care is very large, but for us, it is impossible to
care for all of them and so, we have been focused only to cancer patients.Even that we have now an Albanian
law that gives the right to Palliative Care for all the patients with incurable diseases, we continue to focus only
at cancer patients. This is the consequence of the large number of them and of the small amount of our
incomes.Actually, the service is offered by an interdisciplinary team of 3 doctors, 6 nurses, a social worker

and the volunteers. A renewed and well- trained staff is a challenge for us and we are hiring new persons to
face the needs of patients and their family members, and also we are trying to add new services and activities
for these target groups and for the community.





1

THE MISSSION OF ORGANISATION




is improvement of physical and phsyco- social condition
for patients in termianal stages of their disease and the

reliev of their family members/caregivers through
carefulness for them.









THE VISION OF THE ORGANISATION



“Mary Potter” Palliative Care Center aims to offer a
qualitiative Palliative Care service and a daily hospice

with all the appropriate services and activities by an inter-
disciplinary team, and to be a reference point in education
of students and other healthcare professionals, in order to
empower them in offering Palliative Care for terminally ill
patients, wherever they are.The target groups that receive

our services and attend our activities are: Cancer patients
in terminal stages, Patients of curative and palliative
chemotherapy, Family members of Palliative Care

patients,Doctors, nurses and other healthcare profession-
als,
Students of the School of Nursing, The professionals of
Palliative Care units in Regional Hospitals of Albania
Community.










THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER




Home care for terminally ill patientsDay HospiceApplica-
tion of palliative and curative chemotherapyEducation of
family members/caregiversBereavement care for family
membersMedication of postoperatory and other non

malignant wounds.
2

ACTIVITIES




















Education of healthcare perssonel about Palliative
Care and not only
Journal Club
Fundraising
Promotion of Palliative Care and it’s importance for
terminally ill patients
Increasing the capacities of staff members in order
to improve the quality of services.
























It would not been possible for us to be
successful, if it were not for our support-
ers and collaborators.
During the 2017 they were:
The actors of Palliative care in Albania
Several organizations of Civil Society
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
The national and regional Compulsory Insuarance
Fund for healthcare
Regional Hospital
Nursing faculty of “Fan S Noli” University
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare specialists




3

The National Center of Continuous Education (NCCE)
The aim of our services is: Quality of life for terminally
ill cancer patients and their family members, by offering

a qualitative and standart service.We also aim to be a
positive role model for the entire healthcare service in
our region and to spread this model through continu-

ous education of health professionals or Palliative care
promotional activities and not only.
The major number of terminally ill patients, prefer to
die at home, so the Palliative Care gives them the right
to receive this service at their homes.

The number of the patients who have receive Palliative
Care service by “Mary Potter” Center during 2017 is
242 persons.

All of these patients have receive the appropriate and
necessary service which have consisted in treatement of
several physical, phsyco-social and spiritual symptoms
and in receiving the necessary medicaments and equip-
ments which help them to live a comfortable and digni-

tary life till the last days of it.
The home care visits are our main service and we have
done a lot of them in relation to the condition and

needs of our patients. They have acces in oxygen thera-
py at their homes, of wheelchairs, commode, bad pans,
special matresses etc. All these equipments are neces-
sary for the reliev of the patients and their family
members.




























4

LThe patients and their family mem- The patients who need intervenation
bers have also the opportunity of and treatment that can not be
phone calls with their key nurses or performed in home conditions.
doctors to refer of the changes in The patients, the family members of
their overall condition, to consult or whom are exhausted and need to make
to take advice. a pause from tiresome work of caring
The medication of malignant wounds for the terminally ill and to perform the
is one of the services that we offer at different taks that they do not have the
the patients’ homes. During the 2017 opportunity to perform.
the number of malignant wounds had Nurses and doctors take care for the
continuous evaluation of the different
been a considered one and a finan- situations and the resolving of the
cial burden for our center, not only problems by appropriate treatments and
for the high cost of required materi- intervenations which have a positive
als, but also for the considered impact in improvement of their quality
amount of time that the nurses have of life and the easement of these

to spend dressing these wounds. have persons.
been 2618 home visits during 2017. Attached to the hospice is the day care
The patients had had the opportunity center which is considered as a valuable
to receive the service of day hospice, necessary service for patients and their
which as a daily and very improtant family members. Patients in a good
service had fullfiled its aim toward overall condition and with controlled
patients, family members and our symptoms became part of these activi-
staff. ties.They may play games, may do differ-
The patients became part of day ent crafts and handmade goods which
hospice when they have uncontrolled they may donate to poor and needy
symptoms and difficult situations people.In this day centre they may
which require evaluation and consul- celebrate the birthdays or anniversaries
tancy. in the company of each other and of
the volunteers.








These activities organized in the day care center help the patients for an open communication
about their disease and condition and facilitate the work of healthcare personnel.
The day care center is considered as an enormous success of our staff, over the years.

Application of chemotherapy
During 2017, we have had a reduced number of patients who undergo chemotherapy at “Mary
Potter”Pallaitive Care center, comparing to the past years. We have had a limited budget and

we could not purchase chemopreparates.We have a small income from several fundraising activi-
ties and from some small donations and we have used the money to purchase medicaments and
5 equipments for the terminally ill and some chemopreparates for the patients who undergo pallia-
tive chemotherapy.

6

The curative chemotherapy is applying only at the Oncologic Hospital in

Tirana. The traveling of these patients is very difficult especially after the

long hours of chemotherapy. The patients who undergo chemo in “Mary


Potter “ center for the treatment of the side effects of curative chemo-

therapy, have our support before and after the application.







2017


The number
of chemotherapy
sessions for
was












52, are many times
even that
the requests



bigger.









After the surgical interventions in This service has been offered with the -well, because we have the appropri-
public Oncologic Hospital or other same competency and professionalism ate medication tools provided by

private clinics, the patients have the as the other services. “Little Company of Mary”.
opportunity to recive care for the These post operatory, burn and ulcer- We consider the family members and
medication of post operatory wounds. ous wound medications, have been caregivers as important partners in
offered for the community as- fullfiling our final goal because they

participate in patient care.
7

After the surgical interventions in public Oncologic Hospital or other private clinics, the patients have the opportunity to recive
care for the medication of post operatory wounds. This service has been offered with the same competency and professionalism

as the other services.




These post operatory, burn and ulcerous wound medica- The family members may also contact the social worker
tions, have been offered for the community as well, to address different situations and problems that

because we have the appropriate medication tools require intervention.In these meetings sometimes
provided by “Little Company of Mary”. participate the patients who are aware of the diagnosis
We consider the family members and caregivers as and the prognosis of their disease and even the family
important partners in fullfiling our final goal because doctor, to get to know better the condition and the way

they participate in patient care. of the treatment of the patient.
We held meetings with family members/caregivers to let These meetings have provided a close collaboration
them know even better the diagnosis, the prognosis and between the staff and the family members and also
the aim of the treatments. In these meetings they intro- between them and the patients, helping us to offer a

duce with the entire staff and meet the key nurse, who more qualitative service.
is the responsible person that follows the stages of the We have organized six meetings with family members/-
disease and their indications in the health of the caregivers during 2017 (once in a two months period).
patients, and whom they have to contact continuously. During 2017, our staff of the Departament of Education

At these meetings, the family members get to know the have been totally involved in offering of the trainings
aim of the treatment, the importance of following the for healthcare personnel allover Albania. In a year time
staff advices in drug administration at the right time period we have organized two days, three days and five
and at the right dosage. They were also informed about days training programs.

the problems that the paients may face and the impor- The five days residential trainings program was offered
tance of their prevention. for 65 doctors and nurses from 6 regions of the coun-
try and were made possible by a special donation from 8
“Little Company of Mary”.

The residential training course of the Transformational

Leadership program: Empowering Palliative Care
nurses to enhance the quality of care for patients
with complex, life threatening illness and their fami-
lies” on October 9-13, 2017 was a real challenge for

the staff of Departament of Education.
This training was a part of southeastern Europe
Transformational Leadership program in Palliative Care
and was realized in partnership with Hospice Casa

Sperantei in Brasov, Rumania with financial support of
Bristol –Myers Squibb Foundation.
There were over 30 persons who applied to partici-
pate, but we carefully select only 15 of them.They

were nurses who work at the Pallaitive Care units in
different regions of Albania, chief nurses and lecturers
of Palliative Care in nursing schools.
The residential training course of the Transformational

Leadership program: Empowering Palliative Care
nurses to enhance the quality of care for patients
with complex, life threatening illness and their fami-
lies” on October 9-13, 2017 was a real challenge for

the staff of Departament of Education.
This training was a part of southeastern Europe
Transformational Leadership program in Palliative Care
and was realized in partnership with Hospice Casa

Sperantei in Brasov, Rumania with financial support of
Bristol –Myers Squibb Foundation.





9

offers palliative service for cancer patients in terminal stages, for the entire Korca region.The number of the
patients with advanced chronic diseases who need Palliative Care is very large, but for us, it is impossible to
care for all of them and so, we have been focused only to cancer patients.Even that we have now an Albanian
law that gives the right to Palliative Care for all the patients with incurable diseases, we continue to focus only
at cancer patients. This is the consequence of the large number of them and of the small amount of our
incomes.Actually, the service is offered by an interdisciplinary team of 3 doctors, 6 nurses, a social worker
and the volunteers. A renewed and well- trained staff is a challenge for us and we are hiring new persons to
face the needs of patients and their family members, and also we are trying to add new services and activities
for these target groups and for the community.

There were over 30 persons who applied to participate, but we carefully select only 15 of them.They were
nurses who work at the Pallaitive Care units in different regions of Albania, chief nurses and lecturers of
Palliative Care in nursing schools.
This first experience was an unforgettable one, for each of the participants. Every participant has to manage

step by step his/her own personal project in a week time period.This project had to bring a new approach
toward Paliative Care in the units and their work places.









The programs of the trainings of 2017 had been known and accredited by National Center of Continuous
Education (NCCE) by 11, 15 and 30 credits. NCCE has monitored our training sessions and appraises them

for the given information, teaching technics, correctness and professionalism.The accreditation of these
trainings is a strong motivation for doctors, nurses and the other healthcare professionals to participate.
These training sessions are part of our fundraising activities, and we use the participant’s fees for the

provision of the services for the terminally ill.











During 2017 in two days trainings we have trained 459 persons.
In three days trainings we trained 905 persons and in the residencial trainings 65 persons
There were 15 persons in the residential course on Transformational Leadership program.

The training and continuous education for the staff of “Mary Potter” Palliative Care Center was our priori-
ty during 2017.We need an educated staff in order to continue the provision of qualitative services.









During 2017 the CEO of the organization was graduated from European Academy of Leadership in Pallia-
tive Care, a two years program of EAPC, sponsored by BORCH Foundation.
Three staff members participate in Palliative Care Master Class, a one-week program that took place in

Brasov, Rumania with Palliative Care experts from Rumania and Canada.
Three staf members participate in the consulting sessions about the “Transformational Leadership “Pro-
gram.The social worker and the hospice coordinator shared a three-day experience with Hospice Casa
Sperantei in Brasov, Rumania. Three staff members participate in European Congress of Palliative Care in

Madrid, Spain.They also participates in the round tables to share the thoughts and to discuss about future
challenges in Palliative Care.
10

Education of healthcare perssonel about Palliative
Care and not only
Journal Club
Fundraising
Promotion of Palliative Care and it’s importance for
terminally ill patients
Increasing the capacities of staff members in order
to improve the quality of services.
During the 2017 they were:
The actors of Palliative care in Albania
Several organizations of Civil Society
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
The national and regional Compulsory Insuarance
Fund for healthcare
Regional Hospital
Nursing faculty of “Fan S Noli” University
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare specialists
In this Congress our organization presented the poster” Education
is as well a promotion in providing qualitative Palliative care
service for all people in need”. This theme sounded very interest-
ing for Palliative Care journalists who wanted to learn more about
the education process in Palliative Care field here in Albania.
The CEO of the organization invited by Albanian Order of Nurses
participated in International Congress of Nurses in Barcelona,
Spain. This participation was made possible by financial support
of Swiss Cooperation Albania.




Two of our team members (a doctor and a nurse) went to
Salzburg, Austria to participate in OMI (Open Medical Institute)

Seminar on Palliative Care in Pediatrics.They considered this a
great opporunity to profit from the valuable information given by
PC experts in Pediatrics, in order to improve the quality of Pediat-
ric Palliative Care in Albania which is a great challenge for the

Education organization.

is


as

well Two other members of the staff (Executive director and a


a nurse) participated to Trans-National Leadership Academy

promotion “Truly included-Family and non-kin carers in Hospice and
Palliative Care” organised by Kardinal Konig Haus in Vienna,
in Austria. Again, this was a valuable experience for our staff

providing members who are in their way for further developement of
new services in “Mary Potter” Day Hospice and PC center.
qualitative

Palliative

care


service These activities had been a valuable resource of knowledge
about Palliative Care and the achievements of our
for
colleagues.These necessary experiences had helped us to
all increase the capacities of the staff by improving their work

11 people performance, which has a positive impact in quality of the
service and in improvement of the quality of life of terminally
in ill patients.

need

Bereavement Care is an activity that we performed several times a year.At the beginning, Bereavemnt Care was a tabu and
family members did not talk about their grief before or after the loss of their loved ones.This service is now a necessity
for the survivors, and the expertise of social worker and the support of the volunteers had made it a reliev experience for
the family members of our late patients.

Journal Club has continued on a regular basis and during this activity, each participant read aloud a article from interna-
tional PC magazines that he/her had translated and adopted by himself/herself.This activity was held in attractive locations
out of the work place, considering the great importance of the socialization of team members and their relaxation after
the long hours of work with the terminally ill.

Bereavement
Bereavement

























Care
Care



















We had continued the lobbing and advocacy activity for the development of Palliative Care in Albania. In October 2017,
Work, Social Issues and Health Committee of Albanian Parliament held a hearing session with the Ministry of Health and

groups of interest on the implementation of legislation on Palliative Care. The committee allowed us to speak about our
work and atteinements, our challenges and future plans. At the other hand we ask for support from Albanian Government
in order to continue and increase our services as a PC model Center in Albania.







12

Bishop’s Visit

















































Care
Care








































13

On the second Saturday of October (Interna- The City Hall of Korca increased the sum of

tional Day of Hospice and Pallative Care) we financial aid for “Mary Potter” PC Center. The
meet with patients and the family members Municipal Counsil unanimously approved this
of our late patients to celebrate and support valuable financial support.
Hospice and Palliative Care around the These are the achievements of our organiza-
world.This year theme was: Hospice and Palli- tion, due to our commitment and profession-

ative Care is Life and Hope. The activity took alism in provision of the services and to posi-
place in the Center and the family members tive impact of our work for the community
were part of the interviews for local TV’s, of Korca.

which enhance the importance and the prof- We organized a Christmas lunch party for
its from PC when this service is offered with our patients which was meant to help them
love, compassion, and professionalism. to forget the cancer for one day and to live
October is the “Breast Cancer Awareness fuller life even at the end of it. Some Christ-
Month” and so , at the same day, we wanted mas carols, some folkloric dance, and a lot of

to raise awareness for the importance of the laughter and lively conversation were all that
early detection of breast cancer that can save passed. The lunch was made possible by
the life of women and girls. families of the patients who provided the

he major part of the patients who need PC food. It was a lovely and blessed Christmas
have poor financial conditions and we had lunch.
help them together with the Catholic Church Volunteers had been part of our services and
of Korca.The Catholic Church has a close activities. They are ex- students of nursing
collaboration with the nurses in our center school and are offering generously their time

and had offer social reliev for the poor and and professionalism.
sick. They had provide boxes of food and We were honored to have Bishop Giovanni
clothes and had deliver them at the homes Peragine. B, Apostolic Administrator Emeritus

of these patients thus facilitating difficult life of Sourthern Albania as a visitor to our
of them.At Christmas time theCatholic Church center. The Bishop got a tour of the building
and “Preca” College in Korca, got into the to see its condition and the overall function-
spirit of Holiday by playing Santa for the ing of the center, greeted the people and
poor and needy patients by giving life-saving offer the benediction to bless them.

and life-enhancing gifts of food for those who From his own words we realised that the
are living on the edge of survival. Bishop was very impressed with the service
A lot of small and simple donations were the center provide and these words bruoght

made to our Center from doctors and nurses encouragement and hope for doctors, nurses
of healthcare units in rural aeras of Korca and staff who work at the”Mary Potter” PC
.We appreciated their contribution and we center. The Catholic Church is honoured that
14
will use all the money to purchase medica- the builiding of the center is in use of a
tions and medical supplies to help the commited and compassionate PC team.

patients in need.

These post operatory, burn and ulcerous wound medica-
tions, have been offered for the community as well,
to address different situations and problems that
require intervention.In these meetings sometimes
because we have the appropriate medication tools
provided by “Little Company of Mary”.
participate the patients who are aware of the diagnosis
and the prognosis of their disease and even the family
We consider the family members and caregivers as
important partners in fullfiling our final goal because
doctor, to get to know better the condition and the way
of the treatment of the patient.
they participate in patient care.
We held meetings with family members/caregivers to let
These meetings have provided a close collaboration
between the staff and the family members and also
them know even better the diagnosis, the prognosis and
the aim of the treatments. In these meetings they intro-
between them and the patients, helping us to offer a
more qualitative service.
duce with the entire staff and meet the key nurse, who
is the responsible person that follows the stages of the
We have organized six meetings with family members/-
caregivers during 2017 (once in a two months period).
disease and their indications in the health of the
patients, and whom they have to contact continuously.
During 2017, our staff of the Departament of Education
have been totally involved in offering of the trainings
At these meetings, the family members get to know the
aim of the treatment, the importance of following the
for healthcare personnel allover Albania. In a year time
period we have organized two days, three days and five
staff advices in drug administration at the right time
and at the right dosage. They were also informed about
days training programs.
The five days residential trainings program was offered
the problems that the paients may face and the impor-
for 65 doctors and nurses from 6 regions of the coun-
tance of their prevention.
try and were made possible by a special donation from
“Little Company of Mary”.
During The family members may also contact the social worker
2017,
thanks to a
LCM SISTERS
special do-
nation from LCM SISTERS LCM SISTERS
LCM, beside DORCAS DORCAS
DONATIONS
the 10 resi-
dential
trainings of
65 trainees,
we equipped
a small gym
room for the
needy pa-
tients
& PARTNERSHIPS
Sisters Jannete and Anita, the represantatives of These tools and equipments facilitate our During 2017 the organization was again
“Little Company of Mary “(LCM) went to Vlora to commited work with the terminal patients member of national and international PC organ-
meet Bishop Giovanni Peragine.B, Apostolic offering them a qualitative and dignitary life till istions by renovating the membership applica-
Administrator Emeritus of Southern Albania and their last days.
tion. This membership had helped the enlarge-
they talked about the past, the present and the We are very greatful for the support and ment of the network of our supporters and
future of “Mary Potter” PC Center. It was great consideration of LCM sisters from Chicago collaborators
DORCAS
DORCAS
to share with him this wonderful work we have Illinois, who donate $ 20.000 for” Mary Potter” One of our ambitious future plans is creation of
DORCAS
LCM SISTERS
done together during these years for develop- Palliative Care Center in Korça Albania. a small and modest department for studies and
ment of PC in our region and not only. They DORCAS Albania has been one of our great research in PC.
LCM SISTERS
also thanked the Bishop and the Catholic supporters for about 11 years, but at the begin- With this approach we aim to reveal the
Church for the generosity in offering the build- ning of 2017 that support came to an end problems and needs of terminal patients and
ing to be use as a PC clinic for terminally ill because of the changes in Dorcas Aid Interna- their family members by daily work record
patients.
tional healthcare strategies.
LCM SISTERS keeping.We will share the collected data with
During 2017, thanks to a special donation from The maintenance of the building is one of our experts and colleagues in Albania and
LCM, beside the 10 residential trainings of 65 great challenges because it requires great abroad.The results of these researches will help
trainees, we equipped a small gym room for the amounts of money.We have done this repairing LCM SISTERS
LCM SISTERS us in enlargement and perfection of the services,
DORCAS
needy patients.Thanks to this donation we also work spending the money collected by the an in the future in offering a holistic qualitative
purchased a oxygen therapy apparatus to be fundraising activities and the money that LCM and standart PC.
used in the Hospice and in the patient’s homes, donate for the maintenance of the building. DORCAS
The promotion of voluntarism in PC, the
several commode chairs with wheels, two training and recrution of volunteers is one of
anti-decubitus air bed mattresses, a pneumatic our future plans
apparatus for the treatment of lymphedema and DORCAS DORCAS
DORCAS
an amount of urinary catheters. e
15 LCM SISTERS LCM SISTERS

all the needy people according to the law
for the right of all patients with non curable
The offering of PC service for








Also we are thinking to organize a All these services and activities
workshop in Holistic PC. We think need a bigger educated staff, more
to invite some international experts diseases for PC.
in this service and some of them medicaments for the patients and
have welcomed the invitation to over all, more donations to ensure
became part of the workshop to continuity of the service and to
share their own experience, when OUR offer it with the same commitment
we talked to them ahead of time. and professionalism.











The increasing number of cancer patients in terminal stages FUTURE






Lack of funds
ARE: patients in other cities of Korca region






The increasing number of needy








It was lovely to meet and welcome
Our heartfelt thanks go to LCM, Mrs. Kerry Norman, the wife of British
who had made possible the offering Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Duncan
of PC in Korca region. Norman MBE, who payed a visit to
Many thanks to our wonderful staff, our center. Mrs Norman got a tour to
who has been involved not only in the building, talked to our patients and
offering of PC for patients and CHALENGES became part of a training session we
family members, but also in orga- had in Tirana on November 25. Being
nizing of many activities for the a friendly, respectful and gentle
development and continuity of PC woman, Mrs Norman left us with very
good impressions and a strong
encouragement to do our best for
live.
people in need.









16
for the needy people wherever they with non curable diseases for PC







according to the law for the right of all patients
The offering of PC service for all the needy people