For patients dealing with a serious illness, Bayhealth Kent General in Dover is now offering a Palliative Care program.
The Palliative Care team works with patients in the hospital to relieve uncontrolled symptoms, improve communication and help with the coordination of care.
“Palliative Care improves the lives of patients and their families facing a serious illness,” said Jonathan J. Banibensu, MD. “The Palliative Care team can not only make our patients feel better but help them plan for the future.” Our Palliative Care team consists of nurses, physicians, social workers, chaplains, and others, all working together with primary care physicians to provide the best possible care.
Palliative care supports patients during all stages of a serious illness and is best introduced early in the treatment process. When a physician consults the Palliative Care team, they will work with the patient, and his or her family, to make sure that the patient receives the physical, emotional, and spiritual support needed to battle any advanced/complex disease.
Bayhealth’s Palliative Care program is for inpatient use. It is not the same type of program as Hospice Care, which is meant for those approaching end-of-life. Palliative Care is appropriate for all stages of a serious illness, a release stated.
“Palliative care will help patients set achievable goals for their medical care, and empower patients to care better for themselves and improve their quality of life,” said Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Theresa Latorre-Tegtmeier.“You don’t have to suffer with a serious illness alone.”
To begin palliative care, ask your primary care physician for a referral to the Bayhealth Palliative Care program.
