Lexington, KY - Hospice of the Bluegrass' Palliative Care Center
has opened a new office space
at 2407 Member's Way in Lexington. The Center was previously located at the St. Joseph Office Park.
The Palliative Care Center is a nonprofit subsidiary of Hospice of the Bluegrass. It is an interdisciplinary practice of professionals that provides palliative care consultations in a clinic setting, in hospitals and in long-term care facilities.
Palliative care and hospice care are often used synonymously but they are not identical. "Palliative care is the symptom-directed, patient-centered and life-affirming care of individuals, their families and friends who are living with serious illness," says Dr. Todd CotÈ, Chief Medical Officer.
"The ultimate goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for the patient and family. The focus is on a patient's need for pain control and symptom management caused by the disease process whatever the diagnosis or treatments for the disease. Not only are physical problems of the patient addressed, but also the emotional, social and spiritual concerns of both the patient and family."
Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work with a patient's own doctors to provide an extra layer of support to the patient and family. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided together with curative treatment.
"Hospice care is a subset of palliative care," says Dr. CotÈ. "It is palliative care for individuals with a life-limiting or terminal illness. Hospice care is typically for individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less. There is a shift in focus of the treatments and interventions an individual receives. The purpose of any treatment, therapies or interventions for an individual are applied with the purpose of managing bothersome symptoms and maximizing quality of life."
Many patients with life-limiting diseases are candidates for palliative care, even if they are receiving active treatment for their illness. Consultations are available in Lexington hospitals, long-term care facilities and the out-patient clinic. Patients interested in this service should speak to their primary care physician. For more information, contact the Palliative Care Center at (859) 278-4869.