Why is this significant?
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the first proclamation designating November as hospice month. At that time, hospices served several thousand patients and their families. Current data from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) shows that a record 1.56 million people with life-limiting illness and disease (41.5 percent of those who died in the US in 2009) were served by hospice and palliative care organizations.
What is palliative care?
According to http://www.getpalliativecare.org/, “Palliative care is the medical specialty focused on improving overall quality of life for patients and families facing serious illness. Emphasis is placed on intensive communication, pain and symptom management, and coordination of care.”
In July 2009, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth opened North Texas’ first Palliative Care Unit. We are a 16-bed unit that focuses on providing quality care to patients and their families. We see patients at many points during their disease process and should, ideally, become involved as part of the care team when a patient first receives a chronic disease diagnosis.
Why palliative care?
Palliative care at Texas Health Fort Worth provides a holistic approach to treatment. Our interdisciplinary team works together to coordinate a plan of care that best meets the patients’ and families’ wants and needs. Our goal is to relieve the symptoms that may come along with a disease and to improve quality of life.
Many of you may have a personal experience with palliative care or hospice. I know that my family benefitted greatly when we had a loved one in need. I hope that you will take a moment this month to remember those you have lost and thank those that may have cared for them along the way.
Ashley Hodo, RN
Palliative Care Unit Manager
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