People live fast and often say: "I don't have time." When a person gets a serious illness, time becomes very important. Hematology is a specialty that deals with blood and lymph diseases.
In 2000, treatment for blood diseases was concentrated in Tallinn and Tartu hospitals. But people live all over Estonia. Therefore, it was difficult to provide good treatment to everyone.
In 2018, Pärnu Hospital began offering treatment to patients with hematological diseases. This is good for those who cannot travel to hospitals farther away. Day treatment includes blood transfusions and other therapies.
We studied 80 patients with severe blood diseases. 19 of them had to receive treatment every four weeks. The treatment could last several years.
The results showed that the local hospital can provide good treatment. The patient saves two months of time per year that would otherwise be spent far from home.
Treatment close to home avoids long trips to the hospital. This helps maintain a good life and time with loved ones. This is the best that medicine can currently offer.
Medicine cannot stop time, but it can help a person live better. Today, a person is viewed as a whole - their body, mind, and relationships. What matters is not how much time is left, but how to live that time.