Who shape the 'Quality of Life' department?
- Psycho-oncology; with childlife specialists, medical social workers and psychologists.
- Development-oriented care; with educational facilities, KLIK, activities & events, volunteer organisation, consultant on questions of life and Childhood Advisory Board.
- Anesthesiology and pain relief;
- Supportive care; with a.o. comfort team, infection prevention, dietitians and fertility.
- Sport and movement center;
- Quality of care, with quality advisors en ombudswomen;
- LATER outpatient clinic.
We ask ourselves the following question in everything we do: What does this mean for the child, parents and family? What affect does this have on their quality of life now and in the future? In order for parents and children to get the best possible handle on the impact of childhood cancer on their lives, we aim to constantly improve coordination within healthcare. We want life to go on as normally as possible.
Connecting with parents & children
Parents and professionals are the founders and owners of our Center. We would like parents, children and professionals together to shape the ongoing improvement of care in our Center. We organize research information evenings for parents, and also discussion evenings centering on psychosocial care. Every month, Máxima professionals, representatives of the Client Council and the VOKK Parents, Children and Cancer Association engage in discussions around improvement opportunities in our Center. VOX (VOKK survivors) plays an important part in providing input on care and research around Later care. The Children's Advisory Board (KAR) figures hugely in giving solicited and unsolicited advice on topics that concern our children. The ombudswomen will help us to structurally collect and improve input from parents and children in liaison with professionals. We would like parents and children to think proactively and right from the start about how we can jointly achieve the best possible care and quality of life for our children.
Shared Care
With the advent of the Máxima, pediatric oncology care in the Netherlands is concentrated in one Center. Because our aim is to provide care close to home whenever possible, we work together with 20 shared care centers, spread throughout the country. Every child with cancer has a primary medical practitioner in the Máxima and is also in contact with a shared care center, closer to their own place of residence. Parents, child and primary medical practitioner, jointly decide which shared care center is best for providing care close to home.
Research: Máxima Comprehensive Childhood Cancer Center (M4C)
The Quality of Life research groups are closely associated with the care groups. The research leaders, so-called principal investigators (PI), each have their own focus area and collaborate intensively:
• Psycho-oncology: Dr. Martha Grootenhuis
• Supportive care: Dr. Wim Tissing
• Late effects: Dr. Leontien Kremer
• Neuropsychology: Dr. Marita Partanen
The researchers identify how we can best shape the quality of care in the future and they develop new interventions to continually improve the quality of care.
• Psycho-oncology: Dr. Martha Grootenhuis
• Supportive care: Dr. Wim Tissing
• Late effects: Dr. Leontien Kremer
• Neuropsychology: Dr. Marita Partanen
The researchers identify how we can best shape the quality of care in the future and they develop new interventions to continually improve the quality of care.