Saranam Foundation currently provides community-based palliative care services through multidisciplinary teams, focusing on improving the quality of life of patients with life-limiting illnesses.

Current Engagements

• Palliative Care Program at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (Oncology Patients)
• Recently initiated Palliative Care Services at KC General Hospital for general and geriatric patients
• Upcoming Pediatric Palliative Care Program at Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH)

Saranam’s Care Delivery Model

Each field team consists of:

• Doctor
• Critical Care Nurse
• Psychological Counsellor
• Physiotherapist

Daily Workflow

• Patients are categorized into three priority levels based on urgency and clinical need.
• Daily home visit schedules are prepared accordingly.
• Multidisciplinary teams conduct coordinated home visits.

Services Provided During Home Visits

The team focuses on comprehensive patient and caregiver support by:

• Reviewing the ongoing treatment plan prescribed by the treating physician.
• Ensuring medications are being administered correctly.
• Guiding families on home-based care and best practices.
• Advising simple physiotherapy and mobility exercises to reduce complications such as pressure sores and muscle stiffness.
• Providing psychological reassurance to both patients and caregivers.
• Engaging family members with simple caregiving responsibilities to improve shared support.

Observation: These regular visits provide significant emotional reassurance and practical support, reducing caregiver stress while improving patient comfort.

Follow-up Support

• Post-visit telephonic follow-up is conducted by the backend care coordination team.
• The team monitors patient progress.
• Families receive continued guidance and navigation support based on evolving needs.

Challenges Shared by Saranam Foundation

The team highlighted several operational challenges, including:

• Difficulty in obtaining death certificates for patients who pass away at home.
• Interest in identifying doctors who may be willing to assist families in such situations.
• Requested ORDI’s support in exploring possible medical networks that could facilitate this process.

Bereavement Support

Saranam Foundation also supports families beyond patient care by:

• Assisting caregivers with livelihood opportunities and employment placement after bereavement.
• Helping families transition following the loss of a loved one.

Patient Profile

• Average duration of palliative care support: 6–8 weeks
• Approximately 25% of patients require long-term palliative care services.

ORDI Perspective Shared

Mr. Prasanna Shirol provided an overview of:

• The rare disease patient journey from diagnosis through long-term management.
• The lifelong nature of many rare diseases and the need for sustained multidisciplinary support.
• The significant financial, social, emotional, and psychological burden experienced by patients and caregivers.
• Examples of rare disease conditions requiring long-term home-based care.
• The potential role of structured palliative care in improving quality of life for rare disease patients.
• Opportunities to increase awareness of palliative care through ORDI’s patient engagement programs, educational initiatives, and community events.

Potential Areas for Collaboration

• Explore adapting Saranam’s multidisciplinary home-care model for rare disease patients.
• Identify opportunities for pilot palliative care support for eligible rare disease families.
• Connect willing medical professionals to support home death certification where legally appropriate.
• Collaborate on awareness and education around pediatric and rare disease palliative care.
• Explore caregiver counselling and bereavement support initiatives.
• Develop referral pathways between ORDI, hospitals, and Saranam Foundation.
• ORDI expressed its interest in complementing Saranam Foundation’s efforts by facilitating access to essential medical devices for eligible palliative care patients

Key Takeaways

• Saranam Foundation has established a structured, multidisciplinary, patient-centric palliative care model with strong emphasis on home-based care.
• Their integrated approach addresses not only clinical needs but also the psychological, social, and caregiver aspects of patient care.
• There appears to be significant potential to explore adaptation of this model for rare disease patients, particularly those requiring long-term supportive care.
• A collaborative discussion has been initiated to evaluate feasibility, pilot opportunities, and resource requirements for extending similar support to the rare disease community.

About Saranam Foundation

Saranam Foundation currently provides community-based palliative care services through multidisciplinary teams, focusing on improving the quality of life of patients with life-limiting illnesses.

Current Engagements

• Palliative Care Program at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (Oncology Patients)
• Recently initiated Palliative Care Services at KC General Hospital for general and geriatric patients
• Upcoming Pediatric Palliative Care Program at Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH)

Saranam’s Care Delivery Model

Each field team consists of:

• Doctor
• Critical Care Nurse
• Psychological Counsellor
• Physiotherapist

Daily Workflow

• Patients are categorized into three priority levels based on urgency and clinical need.
• Daily home visit schedules are prepared accordingly.
• Multidisciplinary teams conduct coordinated home visits.

Services Provided During Home Visits

The team focuses on comprehensive patient and caregiver support by:

• Reviewing the ongoing treatment plan prescribed by the treating physician.
• Ensuring medications are being administered correctly.
• Guiding families on home-based care and best practices.
• Advising simple physiotherapy and mobility exercises to reduce complications such as pressure sores and muscle stiffness.
• Providing psychological reassurance to both patients and caregivers.
• Engaging family members with simple caregiving responsibilities to improve shared support.

Observation: These regular visits provide significant emotional reassurance and practical support, reducing caregiver stress while improving patient comfort.

Follow-up Support

• Post-visit telephonic follow-up is conducted by the backend care coordination team.
• The team monitors patient progress.
• Families receive continued guidance and navigation support based on evolving needs.

Challenges Shared by Saranam Foundation

The team highlighted several operational challenges, including:

• Difficulty in obtaining death certificates for patients who pass away at home.
• Interest in identifying doctors who may be willing to assist families in such situations.
• Requested ORDI’s support in exploring possible medical networks that could facilitate this process.

Bereavement Support

Saranam Foundation also supports families beyond patient care by:

• Assisting caregivers with livelihood opportunities and employment placement after bereavement.
• Helping families transition following the loss of a loved one.

Patient Profile

• Average duration of palliative care support: 6–8 weeks
• Approximately 25% of patients require long-term palliative care services.

ORDI Perspective Shared

Mr. Prasanna Shirol provided an overview of:

• The rare disease patient journey from diagnosis through long-term management.
• The lifelong nature of many rare diseases and the need for sustained multidisciplinary support.
• The significant financial, social, emotional, and psychological burden experienced by patients and caregivers.
• Examples of rare disease conditions requiring long-term home-based care.
• The potential role of structured palliative care in improving quality of life for rare disease patients.
• Opportunities to increase awareness of palliative care through ORDI’s patient engagement programs, educational initiatives, and community events.

Potential Areas for Collaboration

• Explore adapting Saranam’s multidisciplinary home-care model for rare disease patients.
• Identify opportunities for pilot palliative care support for eligible rare disease families.
• Connect willing medical professionals to support home death certification where legally appropriate.
• Collaborate on awareness and education around pediatric and rare disease palliative care.
• Explore caregiver counselling and bereavement support initiatives.
• Develop referral pathways between ORDI, hospitals, and Saranam Foundation.
• ORDI expressed its interest in complementing Saranam Foundation’s efforts by facilitating access to essential medical devices for eligible palliative care patients

Key Takeaways

• Saranam Foundation has established a structured, multidisciplinary, patient-centric palliative care model with strong emphasis on home-based care.
• Their integrated approach addresses not only clinical needs but also the psychological, social, and caregiver aspects of patient care.
• There appears to be significant potential to explore adaptation of this model for rare disease patients, particularly those requiring long-term supportive care.
• A collaborative discussion has been initiated to evaluate feasibility, pilot opportunities, and resource requirements for extending similar support to the rare disease community.

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