Palliative Care

Care for patients with chronic conditions

Facing a serious illness can be an emotional and challenging experience for both the patient and their family and friends. Our Palliative Medicine Program is delivered with a team approach, which includes Providers, Nurses, Pharmacists and Chaplains who work together to deliver coordinated, effective palliative care for our patients. A Palliative medicine consult may be requested for any patient through the patient’s provider.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative medicine is specialized care for patients with a chronic illness. The goal of palliative medicine is to prevent and relieve suffering and provide the best quality of life for people living with the complex symptoms and stresses of a chronic illness.

Who is Appropriate for Palliative Care?

Anyone with one or more chronic conditions who’s has a primary care provider at KVH hospital and who might need assistance with any of the areas mentioned below. Palliative care is appropriate at any age.

Areas in Which Palliative Care Can Help:

• Improve symptom management
• In-home RN assessments and prompt communication with patient’s providers
• Enhance communication with providers and clinics
  
• Establish advance care plans and POLST forms
  
• Helping coordinate Transportation for clinic appointments through Mt. Adams transportation
• Help with medication set up
• In home lab draws
• Picking up medications for patients
• Help with grocery shopping
• Connecting and gaining family and friend involvement in patient’s lives to provide as much support for the patient as possible
• Help coordinating with other agencies in the community that could assist with patient needs
• Assisting patients with obtaining equipment needed in the home
• Reducing psychosocial, emotional and spiritual suffering
• Discussing prognosis with patient and family

How to Make a Referral:

If you are the patient’s primary care provider you can submit a palliative care referral form. You can find the palliative referral form by contacting the Palliative Care RN through email at hsenter@kvhealth.net, or over the phone through the RN line at 509-261-1889. Once the referral form is complete please fax it to 509-773-2835. If you are not the patient’s primary care provider, you can either call the patient’s primary care provider and have them complete the referral form, or you can call the RN line at 509-261-1889. If you call the RN line please make sure to have the patients name, phone number and DOB available. The RN will then work with the primary care provider to submit the referral.

Contacting the Palliative Care Team:

Email: hsenter@kvhealth.net

RN Line: 509-261-1889

Fax: 509-773-2835