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There is a nationwide movement to
integrate palliative care into the
hospital and other settings, according
to Jean Suehl, director of Home Health
and Hospice Services. Palliative care is
interdisciplinary care that focuses on pain
and symptom management, as well as
quality of life, for patients with a chronic
or life-threatening illness.
A New Program
“Adding a palliative care program complements
our home health services and hospice
care that we presently provide,” said
Suehl. “Palliative care and hospice are
connected, but different. Hospice is supportive
care for patients who no longer
receive treatments to cure their illness
because they are near the end of their life.
Palliative care is available for patients at
any stage of their chronic illness.” Suehl
added that patients with a chronic
illness can live for many years.
Treating Mind and Body
Palliative care treats the whole person,
meeting the physical, emotional, and
spiritual needs of patients so that they
may live as comfortably as possible,
easing pain, discomfort, and stress
while also supporting family caregivers.
The palliative care team includes
physicians and nurses as well as a pharmacist,
chaplain, social worker, nutritionist,
and respiratory therapist.
Christine Chrisman, R.N., a case
manager certified in hospice and
palliative care, coordinates the
interdisciplinary care to deliver
practical, comforting services
such as pain management,
symptom relief, and emotional
and spiritual support. This includes:
- Assessing a patient’s physical needs and the treatment of symptoms.
- Discussing planning for the future and documentation of end-of-life issues.
- Helping with concerns such as depression, loss of control, anxiety, or loneliness.
- Helping family members deal with their own feelings of guilt, anger, and grief.
Palliative care To learn more
about palliative or hospice care and how
these services may benefit you, call us at