What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Who provides Palliative Care?
Palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.
You may see one of our palliative care team members in the hospital setting, or you may receive a referral for our outpatient palliative care service, SCOP, for in-home visits.
Our inpatient team consists of James Long, MD, Kim Lovell, APRN, Ashley Hughes, PA, Chaplain Mary Behrens, and Registered Nurses Reta Lewis and Sue James.
Supportive Care Outpatient (SCOP), our in-home palliative care service, is led by James Long, MD, Ginny Miller, APRN, and Jessica Hobbs, Medical Assistant.
How is palliative care different from just “good medical care”?
Palliative care emphasizes a holistic approach to patients, with goals of relieving not just physical suffering but also giving attention to the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their caregivers. Our focus is quality of life, helping patients to live as well as possible for as long as possible in the setting of advanced illness. We do this by learning from patients which symptoms are most bothersome, what their goals and wishes are, and how best to align their care with those goals.
Is palliative care the same as hospice care?
No, the two are different. Hospice is for those who are approaching the last stages of life, while palliative care is for patients in any state of a serious or life-limiting illness. Any person with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy or illness, may receive palliative care.
When should I consider Palliative Care, and how do I contact them?
Patients with a chronic illness that are continuing treatment and would benefit from an additional layer of support in the home setting should consider palliative care.
SCOP for care in the home may be reached at 270-415-6100. If you are an inpatient at Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital, let your providers or care team know that you would like to speak with someone from the inpatient palliative care team.
Ginny Miller, nurse practitioner, says, “I meet patients where they are with their illness both literally and figuratively. I visit with patients and families, assess their understanding of their illness, explore their goals and values, address symptoms, and give support as needed. I am honored to provide this type of care to our community.”
