Total Care

Alpha Pain Clinic has been given the ‘Recognized Medical

Institution’ status for procurement, storage and dispensation
of Oral Morphine. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances Act, 1985 (Central Act 61 of 1985). Kerala
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment)
Rules, 1999.

Contributions to Alpha Pain Clinic are eligible for Tax

exemption as admissible under section 80 G.

Please contact the office for more details:-

ALPHA PAIN CLINIC,
P.O. Edamuttam, Thrissur - 680568
Kerala, India
Phone: +91 480 2835100 / 2835200
Website : www.alphapainclinic.com
Email: relief@alphapainclinic.com
Hospice and palliative care aim to give the best quality of care and Chronic Pain Clinic
support, to the needs of the patients with life limiting diseases and • For patients suffering from non
also to their families. It offers the holistic approach of physical, malignant chronic pains e.g. myofacial
emotional and spiritual care to alleviate suffering. pain syndromes, complex regional pain
More than 50 million people die every year around the world and it syndromes, peripheral ischemic pains,
is estimated that 60% of these people would benefit from hospice failed back syndromes, inter-vertebral
and palliative care. But sadly the majority do not have access to disc protrusion pains etc.
these services. • Detailed assessment of pain.
The modern hospice is a relatively recent concern that has • Management through WHO protocol
originated and gained momentum in the United Kingdom after the based Pharmacological, Physical,
establishment of St.Christopher’s Hospice in 1967 by Dr. Cicely Psychological and Interventional Pain
Saunders. Ever since that, it has gained a dramatical growth . Management Techniques.
• It is desirable [not essential] that any
ALPHA PAIN CLINIC systemic, orthopedic or neurologically
NH 17, Near Edamuttam, Thrissur. correctable pathology has been ruled
out prior to evaluation by a Pain
♦ Launching : 3rd May 2005
♦ Official inauguration : 13th Nov. 2005 Specialist.
♦ Services : Out patient, Home care, In patient
♦ Specially trained Doctors and Nurses Breast Prosthesis Clinic
♦ More than 200 skilled volunteers.
♦ Awareness classes, training and education for the Public . • For ladies who have undergone mutilating breast surgery.
♦ Unique training for nurses in palliative care. ƒ Restores body image, self esteem and confidence
ƒ Light weight, economical and easy to use
Patron: Mr. Innocent (Cine Artist)
Chairman: Mr. K.M.Noordeen Lymph Oedema Clinic
Board of Directors:
Dr. M.R. Rajagopal (Chairman, Pallium India) • For patients suffering from lymph
Dr. V.P. Gangadharan (Consultant Medical Oncologist, Lakeshore Hospital, oedema due to malignant diseases,
Eranakulam) non malignant diseases, surgery,
Dr. Suresh kumar (Director, Institute of Palliative medicine, Calicut) radiation etc.
Dr. K.K. Mohandas (Consultant Ophthalmologist & Managing partner, Elite • Nurses trained in Lymph Oedema
Mission Hospital, Thrissur)
Dr. Fazal Mohamed (Consultant ENT Surgeon, Al-Iqbal Hospital , Chentrappinni, Management teach patients and
Thrissur) family:
Dr. Mustaq Ali (Consultant Dermatologist & Cosmetologist, Kaloor, Eranakulam) ƒ Skin Care
Panel of Doctors: ƒ Lymph Oedema Massages
Dr. M.M. Sunil kumar, M.B.B.S, D.P.P.M, Specialist Pain and Palliative medicine. ƒ Lymph Oedema Exercises
Dr. Biju Raghavan, M.B.B.S, D.P.P.M, Specialist Pain and Palliative medicine. ƒ Lymph Oedema containment and support with bandaging
Visiting Faculty : and hosiery
Prof. Dr. M.R.Rajagopal, M.B.B.S, M.D (Anesthesia), Chairman, Pallium India. • Counseling for emotional support and motivation.
Dr. V.P. Gangadharan, M.B.B.S., M.D (Medicine), M.D(Radio Therapy), • Pneumatic Compression [will soon be available in the near
D.M(Medical Oncology), Consultant Medical Oncologist, Lakeshore Hospital,
Eranakulam. future].

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Quality of Iife Care
PALLIATIVE CARE : WHO DEFINITION
• To maintain quality of life of
patients with progressive, WHO Defines palliative care as an approach that improves the
incurable, malignancies and quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem
non malignant diseases like
AIDS, muscular dystrophy,
associated with life- threatening illness, through the prevention
dementias, elderly with multi- and relief of suffering by means of early identification and
organ failures etc. impeccable assessment of pain and other problems, physical,
• By impeccable assessment psychosocial and spiritual. Palliative Care :
and management of
correctable symptoms. • Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
• By providing good nursing care as well as empowering the
family to give good nursing care to the patient at home. • Affirms life & regards dying as normal process;
• Counseling services to deal with emotional problems of the
patient and family. • Intends neither to hasten or postpone death;
• Social support to the patient and family through a network of
trained volunteers. • Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient
• Liaising with charity minded individuals, organizations and care;
institutions to provide financial support and rehabilitation of
those in need. • Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as
possible until death;
Long Term Care
• For patients with non-progressive or slow progressing, incur- • Offers a support system to help the family cope during the
able conditions, which limits the quality of life e.g. Paraple- patient’s illness and in their own bereavement;
gics, quadriplegics or bed bound hemiplegics etc.
• The other aspects of care being similar to ‘Quality of Life • Uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and
Care’.
their families, including bereavement counselling, if indicated;
End of Life Care
• For patients in the terminal phases of their illnesses, irrespective • Will enhance quality of life and may also positively influence
of their diagnosis [in liaison with the treating physician]. the course of illness;
• Impeccable assessment and management of symptoms usually
confronted during the terminal phase of illnesses e.g. severe • Is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction
pain, breathlessness, delirium etc. with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such
• Terminal sedation [in the presence of refractory symptoms as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those
only]. investigations needed to better understand and manage
• Counseling the family about futility of life prolonging distressing clinical complications.
interventions e.g. ventilator support.
• Bereavement support to the family.

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Total Care
• The objective of Palliative Care is to provide good quality life • Designated Community Volunteers visit the family and spend
to the patient and the family. good-quality time with patient and relatives. The volunteers
find out the problems and try to find solutions by discussing
• Palliative Care is much more than taking care of the medical the matters with other volunteers and social workers of the
aspects of the patient. It deals with mental, social, physical area. They take steps to empower the family by providing
and even financial problems of the patient and the family. While support. To find out the problems faced by patient and fami-
the specially trained Doctors and Nurses provide medical lies and solve those problems is what Palliative Care is all
support, trained community volunteers deal with other aspects. about.
• Take for example the case of a patient suffering from
Carcinoma in the cheek is a major subject to the patient. But Home Care
the Doctors and Nurses are giving medical treatment to deal
with the pain and associated illness. What about her other • For patients requiring or currently undergoing therapeutic or
problems? Fear of Cancer, concern about future of the palliative Oncological [Surgical, Radiation or Medical]
family, fear about a painful death, guilty consciousness about interventions.
becoming a burden to the family, problems in social relations,
• Counseling to remove misconceptions and motivating patients
sexual dilemmas, financial problems, spiritual issues, why me
and their families to undergo Oncological interventions [in
god?
consultation with the treating Oncologists].
Community Participation • By impeccable assessment and management of symptoms
[pain, nausea & vomiting, breathlessness, odynophagia,
• Any society taking good care hiccups, constipation etc.],
of those suffering could be before, during and after
termed as CIVILIZED. If we Oncological interventions.
are a good society we must
take good care of those • By motivating the local
suffering from life limiting community to provide
diseases, such as HIV, AIDS emotional and social
and Cancer patients. While it support to the patient
is the right of the patient to and family [through a
receive support, it is the duty network of trained
of the society to provide it. volunteers].

• Community Volunteers from • Liaising with charity

the society are trained to deal minded individuals, organizations and institutions to provide
with the psychological, social , physical and financial financial support for Oncological interventions and
problems of the patients and their families. rehabilitation of those in need.

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