Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - St. Anthony - (Page 53)

Support System by CArlA CArwile F or patients and families facing serious illness, palliative care can provide pain relief, practical assistance and peace of mind. Chester Dreiman, MD, medical director of Palliative Care at St. Anthony Hospital, offers insights on this increasingly important medical specialty. Q What is palliative care? A. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious-acute or chronic-or life-threatening illnesses and their families. It's a whole-person approach that provides patients relief from the symptoms, pain and stresses of their condition-whatever the diagnosis. The larger goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Q What types of diagnoses have your patients received? A. We provide palliative care for patients experiencing cancer, stroke, cardiac and respiratory disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer's, AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and more. You can receive palliative care at any age or any stage of an illness. top photo by thinkstock Q How does it work? A. First and foremost, palliative care is not the same as hospice care, which focuses on end-of-life needs. Instead, palliative care can be provided along with curative treatment. Patients benefit from having an entire team of physicians, advanced practice nurses, social workers, chaplains and other specialists partnering with their other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Working together, CAll Palliative care helps patients and their families cope during trying times Could Palliative Care Help? To find out whether this type of care is right for you or a loved one, call 720-321-1590. these clinicians help treat a patient's pain and suffering as well as other symptoms that affect that patient's experience of pain, such as nausea, anxiety and depression. We also help patients and families face the complex psychosocial and spiritual issues that accompany serious illness through honest and empathetic conversations. It's this dual attention to both physical symptoms and psychosocial distress that is the heart and soul of palliative care. Qa How does one obtain palliative care for loved one at St. Anthony Hospital? A. Any caregiver, patient or family member can request the addition of our services to a patient's care. Please call 720-321-1590 to speak with a team member. Meet Chester Dreiman, MD Medical Director, St. Anthony Hospital Palliative Care "I am passionate about palliative care filling an important role in our health care system as greater attentions shifts to the quality of care received. My team and I are honored to be able to work with patients who are hospitalized at St. Anthony Hospital and their families as they manage the challenges of serious illness." SPRI NG 2014 53

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - St. Anthony

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - St. Anthony
Contents
From the CEO
Community Connections
High Five for Heart Care
When Wounds Won’t Heal
Occupational Hazards
The New Rules of Play
Shopping for Two
Back to Basics
Burn, Baby, Burn
Angelina Jolie
Rock Your Health
Breaking Up with Salt
Disgusting! (or Not?)
Virtual Health
Breast Density and You
Stories from Healing Way
Support System
The Racing Heart
Ask the Experts

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - St. Anthony