T.J. Samson | Destination Health | April 2018

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Platteville, WI Permit No. 7 T.J. Samson Community Hospital 1301 N. Race St. Glasgow, KY 42141 APRIL 2018 D ealing with long-term illness can be a challenge. But it doesn’t have to dictate your life. T.J. Samson’s new in-home palliative care program helps people deal with their symptoms and meet their goals. “Palliative care is for patients who are medically complex, who have a lot of different things going on and who have a desire to not be in the hospi- tal or ER as often,” says Shelly Southworth, RN, CHPN, Palliative Care Coordinator. “We try to manage symptoms at home. It’s a lot of conversa- tions about their goals, how to reach those goals and the symptom management to make that happen.” WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE? Palliative care treats symptoms like pain, short- ness of breath, fatigue, constipation, loss of appe- tite and sleep problems. Palliative care also helps people deal with side effects from medical treat- ments. It’s a comprehensive approach that often helps those with cancer or multiple diagnoses. It doesn’t replace your doctor, but rather takes place alongside your other treatments. Some folks think palliative care is only for people who have a terminal illness. But that’s not the case. “It’s a very common misconception that this is hospice,” says Southworth. “For some patients, that may be an appropriate conversation to have. But for hospice, you have to have a life expec- tancy of six months or less. Palliative care has no such requirements.” HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK? T.J. Samson has offered palliative care in the hos- pital for five years. But house calls are new. “It’s a nurse practitioner coming to the home about once a month,” says Southworth. “Vis- its are 30 to 45 minutes. It’s a lot of conversa- tions more than anything. Palliative care is a little hard to grasp sometimes because it’s not a procedure—we’re not there to do a catheter or perform surgery. Mostly, we’re talking about what’s going on, what’s working, what do we need to discuss, what other options might we try.” Insurance generally covers palliative care.The visits are billed the same as a regular office visit. And getting in-home palliative care is simple. You can speak to your doctor or call the palliative care office directly at 270-659-3333 . Your doctor must provide a referral. “Some patients are excited that palliative care might come out and be the medical provider in the home, but that’s not the purpose,” says Southworth. “It’s bringing in an additional specialty.” Laura Reed is the nurse practitioner with the in-home palliative care program. She has worked at T.J. Samson for six years. Reed is currently visiting patients in Barren, Hart and Metcalfe counties. T.J. Samson is pleased to offer this new service. Consider palliative care if you have symptoms or pain that aren’t under control.There’s no reason to wait—talk to your doctor, or call 270-651-4560 . at home Care and comfort—

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