Last spring, John Hofmann suffered
an intracranial bleed – a serious
brain injury that required the urgent
attention of doctors and specialists
from a variety of disciplines.
When Mr. Hofmann’s family
placed his care into the hands of a
skilled team of physicians, nurses,
and technicians at Winthrop-
University Hospital, they had full
confidence that everything would be
done to ensure his needs were met.
“My family and I are grateful to
the entire staff at Winthrop-University
Hospital for the excellent, professional
and compassionate care that provided
such comfort to my father-in-law and
us during a very difficult time,” said
Mr. Hofmann’s daughter-in-law, Mary
Hofmann, MD, FACP, who is the Chief
of the Division of Geriatric Medicine
at Abington Memorial Hospital in
Pennsylvania.
When it comes to caring for
seriously ill patients, Winthrop is
extraordinarily aware that every
patient has unique needs. In an
extension of this highly personalized
and caring approach to healthcare,
Winthrop recently established a
Palliative Care Program for seriously
ill patients, their families and the
physicians who are treating them.
“The fact that I am a
physician…had no
influence on the excellent
care my father-in-law
received, as this seems
to be the way every
patient is treated at
your institution.”
Mary Hofmann, MD
Abington, PA
Palliative care is the active,
comprehensive care of patients that
enhances quality of life by addressing
the physical, psychological, social and
spiritual concerns of seriously ill
patients and their families. Care is
focused on the management of symptoms
and stress of disease at any
stage in a serious illness, including
end of life.
“Palliative care programs have
rapidly proliferated in hospitals
throughout the United States for a
good reason. These programs assist
patients, families and clinicians
through some of the most medically
challenging and emotionally trying
times of one’s hospitalization,” said
Jeffrey T. Berger, MD, FACP, Chief of
the Section of Hospice and Palliative
Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics
at Winthrop. Dr. Berger spearheaded
the creation of the program and is
Board-certified in Internal Medicine
and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Palliative care services at
Winthrop include:
- Medical management to reduce
pain and other symptoms such as
nausea, fatigue, and shortness of
breath;
- Psychological and spiritual support;
- Assistance with developing plans of
care to optimize quality of life;
- Assistance with advance care planning
to ensure patients’ preferences
will guide treatment – even if patients
can no longer make decisions for
themselves;
- Assistance with deciding on life-sustaining
and life-extending measures;
evaluating benefits and burdens of
different treatment options; planning
in case a crisis event occurs;
and preparing for end of life.
“This interdisciplinary service
offers support for patients and their
families,” said Dr. Berger.
The program is staffed by a team
of specially trained physicians credentialed
in palliative care and nurse
practitioners with specialized expertise,
who may call on other disciplines,
such as social workers, chaplains,
dietitians and pharmacists, depending
on the patient’s needs. The team works
with the patient and their family to
identify the goals of care and coordinates
a care plan and interventions
that reflect their values and wishes.
For the Hofmanns, the palliative
approach to care was the best
approach – not only bringing comfort
to their loved one, but also to the
entire family.
“Hospital staff, in all disciplines,
worked hard to ensure my father-inlaw’s
dignity and comfort at the end of
his life. Our family always felt that all
was being done to ensure his wishes
were met, and he died in peace with
his family,” said Dr. Hofmann.
To learn more about Palliative
Care services at Winthrop, please call
1-866-WINTHROP.
|
Vol. 19, No. 3
Fall 2009
Back to Publications
|
