Department of palliative medicine and care

The department of palliative medicine and care at University Hospital rechts der Isar of the Technical University (TUM) Munich has ten employees, including doctors, palliative care nurses, social workers, an art therapist, and an administrator. The department works as a structural part of the department of psychosomatics and psychotherapy and interacts closely with the Center for Interdisciplinary Pain Therapy and pastors at the clinic. In addition, the staff provides counselling services at the request of the ward doctors, nursing staff, or relatives to accompany seriously ill people. Up to 650 patients are treated annually in the department. In addition to inpatient palliative care for the patients undergoing treatment at the hospital, outpatient palliative care services with 24-hour on-call service are also available. 

Patients with severe illnesses and a limited life expectancy are treated with effective symptom control and pain therapy. Accompanying care is based on the fulfilment of the patients' psychological, social, and spiritual needs. The focus is on the self-determination and dignity of seriously ill and dying people.