By further expanding its interdisciplinary medical team, GPR Klinikum is strengthening its palliative care services. Dr. Benckendorff is a board-certified specialist in anesthesiology with additional certifications in emergency medicine, palliative care, and specialized pain management, and he brings his extensive expertise to the clinic’s clinical work.
Dr. Marcel Féchir, a neurologist, senior physician at the Second Department of Internal Medicine, and chair of the Clinical Ethics Committee, as well as Dr. Alper Michael van Sijl, an internist and senior physician at the First Department of Internal Medicine, have been working at GPR Klinikum for many years. Both hold a subspecialty certification in palliative medicine and have played a key role in shaping palliative care to date.
Close cooperation among the participating disciplines ensures holistic care tailored to the individual needs of patients.
Dr. Maximilian Benckendorff brings a wide range of qualifications to the GPR Clinic. For over twenty years, Dr. Benckendorff has been engaged in interdisciplinary work in the healthcare sector. He already worked in an interprofessional capacity during his studies in physical therapy in Utrecht (Netherlands), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. During a three-year stay in Switzerland, he specialized in the field of nonspecific back pain and functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system. This was followed by studies in human medicine at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. Even during his clinical rotation, Dr. Benckendorff gained valuable insights into the work of the interdisciplinary palliative care unit at Mainz University Medical Center. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at Mainz University Medical Center and most recently practiced at the DRK Pain Center, where he also completed additional training in palliative and pain medicine. In addition, he leads the palliative medicine course for the continuing education of female physicians in Rhineland-Palatinate (Interdisciplinary Society for Palliative Medicine in RLP e.V.).
Dr. Benckendorff looks forward to his new role with motivation and clear goals: “I am very much looking forward to working at the GPR Clinic and, in particular, to jointly expanding palliative care. So far, I have received a great deal of support for palliative care work from the management and staff of the GPR Clinic. The expansion of the interdisciplinary palliative care team offers a great opportunity to further integrate various highly qualified departments at the GPR Clinic and thereby advance the high-quality care of our patients. From my deep passion for palliative care, I derive a personal duty and responsibility to address future medical and societal challenges: Our society is aging, and therapeutic options are constantly expanding. The daily challenges of making ethically sound decisions at the patient’s bedside are constantly growing. In addition to highly specialized medicine, what is needed above all are wise, patient-centered decisions to guide people through sensitive phases of their illness.”
Palliative medicine is dedicated to the holistic care and support of patients with advanced, incurable illnesses. At the center is the individual with their wishes, hopes, fears, and expectations. The desire for treatment aimed at a cure often cannot be fulfilled. It is not uncommon for the therapies used to also cause distressing side effects. Multidisciplinary palliative care can significantly alleviate pronounced symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, or nausea.
“Palliative medicine is a field that requires interdisciplinary thinking and a high degree of empathy. With the addition of Dr. Benckendorff and the close collaboration among departments, we are creating an environment at GPR Klinikum where medical excellence and human compassion go hand in hand. Our goal is to provide people in a particularly sensitive phase of life with security, dignity, and quality of life,” said the Medical Director of the GPR Clinic, Dr. Gerd Albuszies.
The GPR Clinic works closely with non-hospital facilities such as hospices and specialized outpatient palliative care providers, addressing the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. The goal is to ensure that affected patients and their families experience a symptom-free and high-quality life.
Achim Neyer, Managing Director of the GPR Clinic, sees the establishment of this team as an important milestone: “With the appointment of Dr. Benckendorff and the formation of this interdisciplinary team of experts, we are strengthening palliative care in our region in a sustainable way. Our goal is to offer patients medical and compassionate care of the highest standard even in the final phase of their lives, placing the individual person and their needs at the center.”