Palliative Care at Mercy Special care for people with advanced illness.
On April 16, 2008, for the first time ever, the nation engaged in an inaugural National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). On this day, throughout the country, healthcare providers, professionals, chaplains, attorneys, and others participated in a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making. To facilitate this process, Mercy is partnering to providing clear, concise, and consistent information and tools for the public to execute written advance directives (heatlhcare power or attorney and/or living will) in accordance with their applicable State laws. Many resources are already available at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.
Education and Outreach efforts will be happening at most Mercy Hospitals and Extended Care Facilities throughout 2008. Check back frequently for updated listings and community offerings.
Resource Links:
What is Palliative Care?
Amid the challenges of a chronic illness or life-threatening condition, patients and their caregivers often face multiple hopes and fears. They hope for relief of symptoms, more time with their loved ones and quality of life. They fear pain, suffering and death. How can we invite hope into their living rather than succumb to fear?
Palliative Care aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life simultaneously with all other appropriate treatment for patients with advanced illness and their families. It is a model of care for patients with all types of chronic, progressive illness that focuses on maintaining quality of life throughout the course of the disease or condition.
What is the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice?
While hospice is holistic care provided only when a person's life expectancy is six months or less, palliative care has no restrictions on when it can be used. Unlike hospice, palliative care can be integrated with life-prolonging therapies. Like hospice, it can also be the main focus of care.
What are Mercy Health Partners Palliative Care Services?
The Mercy Palliative Care service is a specialized team of medical, social and holistic professionals who partner with patients and families who are experiencing chronic progressive disease or life-threatening condition. In conjunction with other members of the health care team, palliative care team members:
- Partners with you to understand what is most important in you life and how that is impacted by your progessing illness
- Make recommendations concerning pain and symptom management
- Offer holistic assistance as you navigate an increasingly complex healthcare system and challenging community resources
- Help you and family with care coordination for chronic illness or life-threatening conditions, prognosis and end of life
- Assist in discussions and communication concerning advanced care planning and advance directives
- Aid you and your family in understanding and making difficult health and care resource decisions
- Coordinate discharge planning by facilitating home care and valuable community referrals.
What are the Goals of Palliative Care?
The goal of palliative care is to attend to and relieve suffering and support the best quality of life for patients and their families regardless of the stage of disease or the need of other therapies." (National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care, 2004)
How Can I Get Palliative Care Services?
Patients and their caregivers can ask their doctor for a consultation for services from the Mercy Palliative Care team. A Palliative Care Nurse Coordinator will see them and complete an assessment based on patient and family priorities and care needs.
The Palliative Care Team
At Mercy Health Partners, a team approach is used to meet the physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs of the patient and his or her family. In many cases, this care extends past the acute admission and partners with patients and families for the duration of their illness or condition. The interdisciplinary Palliative Care Team includes your primary care physician, a palliative care nurse coordinator, hospital nurses, social workers, case managers, chaplains, holistic therapists, pharmacists and dietitians and other specially trained staff and community service providers.
Palliative Care Community Program
The core services for the Palliative Care Community Program include:
- Patient Education and Support (disease process, coping, resources and services, advanced care planning)
- Consultation with your service providers
- Continued support through patient telephone calls and limited home visits for care coordination across the health care system
- Community Education
For more information on this program, please contact Mary Davidson, MSN, RN, Regional Director, Palliative Care at 513/603-8950 or by e-mail at medavidson@health-partners.org.
Palliative care services are available at all five Mercy Hospitals. If you would like to speak to someone regarding palliative care, please call the appropriate number below.
Mercy Hospital Anderson | 513/624-4854
Mercy Hospital Clermont | 513/732-8773
Mercy Hospital Fairfield | 513/603-8820
Mercy Hospital Mt. Airy | 513/853-5841
Mercy Hospital Western Hills | 513/389-5063
Currently, there is no reimbursement for the additional services of a palliative care team in hospitals or the community. If you are interested in helping us sustain palliative care into the future, or making a donation, please call the Mercy Foundation at 513/981-6329.
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