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[Concept of apartment-sharing groups for children and adolescents treated with long-term ventilation]
1Vestische Kinderklinik Datteln, Universität Witten/Herdecke. 023639750-0001@t-online.de
Insights
Children requiring long-term mechanical ventilation need comprehensive support beyond intensive care. A proposed model of "flat sharing groups" aims to integrate medical, psychological, and educational care for a better quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Respiratory Medicine
- Rehabilitation
Context:
- Long-term mechanical ventilation poses challenges for children's basic needs and rights.
- Current care models may overly focus on intensive care unit (ICU) requirements.
- An inquiry identified 14 such patients in Westfalen-Lippe, with an estimated 200 nationwide.
Purpose:
- To propose a holistic care model for children on long-term mechanical ventilation.
- To explore a compromise between intensive care needs and regular living circumstances.
- To promote integration and self-determined life for these children.
Summary:
- A "holistic" approach is advocated, integrating medical, psychological (including family), and pedagogical support.
- The concept of "flat sharing groups for ventilated children and adolescents" is presented as a complex model.
- This model aims to meet the needs of children on long-term ventilation within a more normalized living environment.
Impact:
- Facilitates a better quality of life by considering basic human needs and rights.
- Enables a more integrated approach to care, moving beyond solely ICU-focused solutions.
- Supports the paradigm of "self-determined life" for children requiring mechanical ventilation.
Abstract:
Children on long-term ventilation without adequate support have already been a topic of reports a few times. An inquiry conducted by the Vestische Kinderklinik confirmed this for 14 patients on ventilation in the area of Westfalen-Lippe. According to estimates in the weekly magazine "Der Spiegel" there are about 200 affected children and adolescents. Even in situations of continuous pressure, basic human needs and rights are not to be neglected, they are to be taken into consideration at each medical, therapeutic and pedagogic intervention. From such a "holistic" point of view the living surroundings of those patients should not be exclusively or mainly defined by ICU needs. Even more, due to the development in intensive care medicine, there should be the possibility of a compromise under "regular living circumstances", ensuring an optimal cooperation of medical "life-security" as well as psychological (including the family) and pedagogical guidance and help. With the concept of "flat sharing groups for ventilated children and adolescents" we promote a complex model that seems to be able to fulfil the requirements stated above. The idea of integration as well as the paradigm of "self-determined life" should be taken into account.