Palliative care in a small medical clinic in Zurich, Switzerland

The first palliative unit in the region of Zurich was opened at the Bircher Klinik Susenberg in 1994, The 40-bed clinic specialises in internal medici ne, geriatrics and rehabilitation and has given special importance to the h olistic care of the patients since its foundation in 1939. In addition to s ymptom control and terminal care, rehabilitation was integrated into the co ncept of palliative care at an early stage. Most of the patients are referr ed from hospitals in or around Zurich, approximately 20% by the family phys ician. The mean age of palliative patients is around 69 years, and they sta y an average of 27 days in the clinic. Close to 40% of them can return home , and the same percentage die during their stay in hospital; the rest are r eferred to homes for the elderly or nursing homes or to a central hospital.