Sixty-five percent of adult Americans die in hospitals. Many of these individuals have chronic or terminal illnesses that leave them and their families in need of more than just medical care. As the "baby boomers" continue to age, the issue of caring for the elderly and patients with life-limiting illnesses is becoming a major priority in hospital care.
Palliative Medicine assist patients and their
families and caregivers with end-of-life issues.
The multidisciplinary team approach to end-
of-life care provides a unique opportunity to
address an issue that is an uncomfortable
subject to many individuals. |
Palliative Medicine assist patients and their families and caregivers with end-of-life issues. The multidisciplinary team approach to end-of-life care provides a unique opportunity to address an issue that is an uncomfortable subject to many individuals.
While community-based programs such as hospice provide options for physicians, these programs do not fully address the needs of American adults with life-limiting illnesses. Caring for end-of-life patients in a traditional hospital setting can be challenging.
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has developed a Palliative Medicine Program to assist patients and their families and caregivers with end-of-life issues. The multidisciplinary team approach to end-of-life care provides a unique opportunity to address an issue that is an uncomfortable subject to many individuals.
The approach encourages open communication with patients and families, helps identify and carry out individualized goals for end-of-life care and addresses the medical, emotional, psychological and spiritual issues that occur.
Scope of Services
We are available for adult patients with serious and/or terminal illness. Unlike traditional hospice referrals, there is no requirement that patients have a prognosis for survival of six months or less, nor that all active treatment be discontinued. Consultation is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Each member of the team has a clear and thorough understanding of end-of-life care and can respond to the complexities of care for patients with life-limiting illnesses. The team can provide comprehensive care for patients on any hospital floor and offer consultation services to primary and specialty physicians.
We will work with referring physicians to manage the care of patients most effectively. If requested by the referring physicians, the palliative care team can accept the patient and assume primary management responsibilities.
Core Palliative Services
- Assessment and management of symptoms including pain, dyspnea, depression, anxiety and delirium.
- Assessment and communication of estimated prognosis.
- Assistance for patients and families to identify personal goals for end-of-life care.
- Assessment and management of patients' and families' emotional and spiritual needs.
- Coordination of therapies, equipment and other care resources to optimize functional status and overall quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Benefits
The Palliative Medicine Program offers benefits to physicians, patients and patient families. The service provides unique assistance in an area in which physicians and other staff may be uncomfortable.
- It improves understanding of issues related to death and dying for physicians, patients and their families.
- It reduces transfers of patients between different care settings during the final stages of life and increases continuity of care.
- It improves advance planning regarding medical interventions during the final stage of life.
- And it improves symptom control of patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Key Personnel
Mary Whitmer, RN, MSN, FNP, CHPN, is certified in hospice and palliative care nursing. Ms. Whitmer has extensive experience in treating end-of-life patients with more than 20 years experience as a hospice case manager. She received her nursing degree from Bowling Green University in Ohio and completed a Master's degree in nursing and a nurse practitionership program at Arizona State University.
Paul E. Stander, MD, FACP, is the program's medical director. Dr. Stander obtained his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He spent three years in Wisconsin completing an Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee before moving to Arizona.
Selma Kendrick, RN, MSN, is the program's nursing director. Ms. Kendrick has been with Banner Good Samaritan since 1973 and has extensive experience in dealing with end-of-life patients as a staff nurse. She is also Nursing Director of the Hematology and Oncology service, the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit and the City of Hope at Banner Good Samaritan Bone Marrow Transplantation Program.
Katie Bond, RN, MPA, OCN, is the program's clinical pain specialist who develops and coordinates projects to improve pain management practices within the Banner Health system. She has more than 30 years of nursing experience in management, education and program development and has provided pain management consultations to patients in both the hospice and home care setting. Ms. Bond is chair of the Arizona Pain Initiative.
For more information on the Palliative Medicine Program at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center or to schedule an appointment to speak with a program representative, please call Palliative Medicine nurse practioner Mary Whitmer, (602) 239-6078, or clinical pain specialist Katie Bond, (602) 420-4751.