SAMWUMED has partnered with Alignd to provide palliative care to members who have been diagnosed with cancer and have a poor prognosis. Alignd is a value-based care organisation that offers comprehensive care for patients with advanced-stage cancer as a part of the Palliative Care Programme. Alignd partners with medical schemes and has a network of providers to enable coordinated care, empowering the healthcare system, which has the patient at the centre.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialised medical care for people with serious illnesses that focuses on improving their quality of life. It can be provided at any stage of an illness and works alongside other active treatments. A specialised team, which usually includes a palliative trained doctor, nurse, and social worker, works in collaboration with other healthcare practitioners to provide this extra layer of support.
The Programme offers a holistic approach, including an initial consultation with a palliative care doctor, counselling for the patient and family, and the establishment of an advance care plan.
About the Programme
The SAMWUMED Palliative Care Programme in partnership with Alignd, provides all eligible members, and their families, with support, quality care, and holistic management during their cancer treatment by providing an extra layer of support, which includes symptom relief such as pain management as well as relief from psychosocial distress, while enabling the home-based care approach, and does not replace any existing care from your other benefits.
Care is provided by an expert multidisciplinary team (MDT) typically consisting of a palliative trained doctor, a registered nurse, and sometimes also a social worker, if required. Alignd partners with PALPRAC (Association of Palliative Care Practitioners of South Africa) to provide comprehensive support. An Alignd Care Partner will coordinate the patient’s needs with the palliative care team to ensure that you are fully supported.
The MDT works in collaboration with existing healthcare practitioners, including the treating oncologist and family general practitioner (GP), allowing the entire team to collaborate and coordinate the patient’s care.
The Palliative Care Programme is available at no extra cost to the member and does not replace the member’s existing oncology benefit. It is an extra layer of care or support which is covered by the Overall Annual Limit as an alternative to hospitalisation, and does not affect your day-to-day benefits, medical savings, or your oncology benefit.
Benefits for Members
Palliative care helps to provide:
- Relief from symptoms like pain, nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath
- Emotional and spiritual support, and relief from psychosocial distress
- An improved quality of life for both the patient and their loved ones by focusing on the patient’s goals, values, and overall well-being
- Care coordination for patients and their families to understand the treatment options and coordinate their care to align with the patient’s wishes
- Support for the members’ families and caregivers
Enrolling in the Palliative Care Programme?
- Contact SAMWUMED on 0860 104 117 to refer you to Alignd, or
- Contact Alignd directly at info@alignd.co.za or (+27) 87 550 3399, even if you just want to find out more information
- Your doctor, nurse, or social worker can also refer you to access the programme
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Palliative care is specialised medical care for people with serious illnesses that focuses on improving their quality of life. It can be provided at any stage of an illness and works alongside other active treatments. A specialised team, which usually includes a palliative trained doctor, nurse, and social worker, works in collaboration with other healthcare practitioners to provide this extra layer of support.
Palliative care helps to provide:
- Relief from symptoms like pain, nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath
- Emotional and spiritual support, and relief from psychosocial distress
- An improved quality of life for both the patient and their loved ones by focusing on the patient’s goals, values, and overall well-being
- Care coordination for patients and their families to understand the treatment options and coordinate their care to align with the patient’s wishes
- Support for the members’ families and caregivers
The SAMWUMED Palliative Care Programme in partnership with Alignd, provides all eligible members, and their families, with support, quality care, and holistic management during their cancer treatment by providing an extra layer of support, which includes symptom relief such as pain management as well as relief from psychosocial distress, while enabling the home-based care approach and does not replace any existing care.
Care is provided by an expert multidisciplinary team (MDT) typically consisting of a palliative trained doctor, a registered nurse, and sometimes also a social worker, if required. Alignd partners with PALPRAC (Association of Palliative Care Practitioners of South Africa) to provide comprehensive support. An Alignd Care Partner will coordinate the patient’s needs with the palliative care team to ensure that you are fully supported.
The MDT works in collaboration with existing healthcare practitioners, including the treating oncologist, allowing the entire team to collaborate and coordinate the patient’s care.
The SAMWUMED Palliative Care Programme in partnership with Alignd, is available to eligible members at no extra cost. It is covered by the Overall Annual Limit as an alternative to hospitalisation, and does not affect your day-to-day benefits, medical savings, or your oncology benefit.
No, it does not. It is an extra layer of care or support.
The programme provides an extra layer of specialised care and support for members. It is not a replacement for existing care, but is designed to complement the care you are already receiving.
You gain access to a dedicated, multidisciplinary team that can spend the extra time needed to guide you and your family through the physical, emotional, and practical challenges of your journey. This includes meaningful, timeous conversations regarding diagnosis and future care preferences, including advanced care planning, as well as psychosocial and emotional support to help navigate the disease journey.
The SAMWUMED Palliative Care Programme in partnership with Alignd, is separate from the SAMWUMED oncology benefit and is available to eligible SAMWUMED members at no extra cost, with cover from the Overall Annual Limit as an alternative to hospitalisation, and does not affect your day-to-day benefits, medical savings nor your oncology benefit.
The programme offers three models of care based on the availability of a palliative care doctor in your vicinity. These models include: Standard, Remote Access, and Virtual-Only.
- Standard model: the palliative care doctor is available in person
- Remote Access model: the palliative care doctor is only available virtually, but a nurse or general practitioner (GP) is available in person
- Virtual-Only model: both the palliative care doctor and nurse or GP are only available virtually
Patients with advanced or metastatic cancer, as well as their families, will typically benefit from this extra layer of support provided by the palliative care multidisciplinary team.
Other life-limiting diseases may be approved by SAMWUMED on a case-by-case basis.
There are multiple ways that members can access the programme:
- Contact SAMWUMED on 0860 104 117 to refer you to Alignd, or
- Contact Alignd directly at info@alignd.co.za or 087 550 3399, even if you just want to find out more information
- Your doctor, nurse, or social worker can also refer you to access the programme
