No one ever wants to have the conversation about serious or terminal illness, but at some point nearly everyone will need to have it. Both hospice and palliative care concentrate on alleviating all types of suffering during the most challenging phases of life. "Hospice" care is specific to people near the end of life, while "palliative" care is for those who have a serious illness at any point in life.
Hospice and palliative care professionals are working to amplify the conversation and advance the quality of care surrounding serious and terminal illness. In the Wood River Valley, the "compassionate care conversation" will be on high at the upcoming Hospice & Palliative Care Summit: The Best Care Possible, on October 22, 2013.
Idaho Quality of Life Coalition defines and differentiates hospice and palliative care as follows:
Hospice Care
Hospice is designed to provide the highest quality care and support for terminally ill patients near the end of life. Because death is an emotionally, physically and financially turbulent experience, hospice patients are connected to their own interdisciplinary team who address nearly every human need at the end of life. Hospice teams often include a doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain/spiritual leader, home health aide, various therapists and volunteers. The hospice seeks to understand and respect patient concerns, wishes and beliefs and ultimately promotes dignity at the end of life.
Palliative Care
Palliative care treats people suffering from serious and chronic illnesses, including cancer, cardiac disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Like hospice, palliative care is a partnership between patient, medical specialists and family. Usually, a team of experts, including palliative care doctors, nurses and social workers work to not only control symptoms, but by helping patients understand their treatment, options and goals.
Hospice and Palliative Support Includes:
• Expert management of pain and other symptoms
• Help navigating the healthcare system
• Guidance with difficult and complex treatment choices
• Emotional and spiritual support for patients and their loved ones
• Time for close communication
Importantly, hospice and palliative care provide hope, compassion and comfort in some of the patient’s darkest hours.
Dr. Ira Byock, one of the most compelling voices in palliative care, will be in the Wood River Valley to discuss The Best Care Possible, based on his most recent book of the same title, with the community as well as healthcare professionals. Dr. Byock will give a free community presentation at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 21 at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood. In addition, he will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday, October 22 at the Palliative Care Summit at the Sun Valley Inn. Both events are made possible by funding from Cambia Health Foundation, Hospice and Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley, St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation and the Idaho Quality of Life Coalition.
In addition to Dr. Byock, the Palliative Care Summit will feature Dan Johnson, MD, who is the National Physician Lead for Palliative Care at Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute in Colorado; Lana Riemann, MD, who is the Medical Director of Davidson County in Lexington, Kentucky; Kevin Clifford, MD, who is the Palliative Care Medical Director at Saint Alphonsus in Boise and others equally qualified.
Presentations, a panel discussion and roundtable discussions will create opportunities to exchange ideas with experts, ask questions and increase participants knowledge and understanding of palliative care. All presenters come highly credentialed with extensive backgrounds, awards and expertise in the field. The registration fee for the Palliative Care Summit is $20.00 and includes lunch. Registration can be made online at http://hpcwrv.org/. Anyone can participate to listen, speak with and ask questions of these leading experts in the palliative care field that is rarely available at the local level.
For more information or questions, please contact Carolyn Nystrom at 208.726.8464 or hospice@hwrv.svcoxmail.com.
This article of the Body & Soul Blog is sponsored by St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center.