Enfª Cátia Santos

Head Nurse

Proximity and empathy

Nursing at the clinics of the HPA Group

HPA Magazine 19

Perception of the problems inherent to a community requires understanding and deep a involvement, which in turn means a relationships of proximity and empathy.
Bearing in mind the multiculturism that exists in the Algarve, it is common to see people of different races, cultures, religions and nationalities in search of answers to their health problems.

Following the demographic evolution of the Algarve, which also includes health tourism, in 2012 the HPA Group began its expansion in providing proximity care, providing a network of clinics, which today cover the entire region, from Lagos to Vila Real de Santo António, also including Monchique the interior of the Algarve, totalling ten units.
This possibility has bridged the deficiencies and difficulties that the Algarve has experienced in health care, by providing speed in the prevention, diagnosis and efficiency in obtaining total and accessible treatment. 
It is possible to book appointments and exams at the HPA clinics sooner than at the hospitals, as various medical specialties are available, including clinical analyses, imageology exams and nursing, thus providing health care and services to different communities. In this way everyone´s medical needs can be met close to home. 
Furthermore, it must be noted that the HPA clinics have a 24-hour support of the Groups Hospitals at their disposal, when complex services such as surgical or inpatient admissions are required. 
In these circumstances of proximity and multiculturalism, it is up to the nurse to get to know and communicate with all patients, respecting ideas and differences, valuing experiences and knowledge, with the aim of promoting, maintaining and recovering the patient’s health, but also of the family and community, not only in an ethical and humanistic relationship, but also in a technical-scientific perspective.
 

Training is therefore a fundamental process. Nurses have the arduous task of keeping up to date in the various nursing areas where they provide support, either through the internal e-learning platform, or through external training courses or those promoted by the Group.
Another task is to assume the responsibility and commitment to meet the real health needs of the populations, which include subjects such as health education, disease prevention, recovery and maintenance of health, as well as planning, coordination, management and evaluation of the care provided.
The general skills of nurses at HPA clinics are also related to the administrative procedures, which encompasses decision-making and leadership, thus allowing for a perfect articulation between these units and hospitals. 
With planning, organization and coordination, promoting a good relationship with the various members of the institution serves as a bridge between all those involved when referral is necessary, where the aim is to provide the best service to the patient. 
This leadership involves commitment to the Group's mission, responsibility, empathy, decision-making skills and effective and efficient communication.
All these factors have a significant impact on the community, highlighting the importance of the care provided by the HPA clinics in the towns where they are located.