Memorial Introduces Palliative Care Service
For Immediate Release May 9, 2013
People who are facing serious illness can now turn to Memorial Palliative Care for compassionate and specialized treatment. Whatever the diagnosis may be, this service provides patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of serious illness.
The Palliative Care team, which includes a physician, nurse practitioner, social worker, and chaplain, strives to improve quality of life for the patient and their loved ones. They work together with the patient’s attending physician to provide an extra layer of support.
Memorial Palliative Care includes Nathan Boles, MD, board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Paulette Dawkins, CFNP; Stephanie Schindler, LCSW; and Rev. Martin Gilliland, M.Div, BCC, Staff Chaplain.
The goals of palliative care include:
Palliative care can be offered to patients of any age at any stage of serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment. Palliative care is appropriate for anyone suffering with a serious, chronic, or life-threatening illness such as cancer, cardiac disease, respiratory disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, and others. Palliative Care is not hospice care, which is a common misperception.
Approximately 90 million Americans are living with serious and life-threatening illnesses, according to the Center to Advance Palliative Care (www.capc.org). The New England Journal of Medicine reported that patients receiving early palliative care experienced less depression, improved quality of life and longer survival.
Memorial Palliative Care provides guidance and support at a time when patients and their families need it most.
For more information, please call (228) 865-3165.