Missing from the photo are Ame Wagner, home care director; Mona Rothrock, Kathy Wilson, Katie Norris, Suzy Gillette, Kim Dimmick and Janie Moore, registered nurses; Dana Wilson volunteer coordinator; Pam Shurer, social worker; and the following aides: Patsy Flanders, Nancy Timko, Charlene Read, Lu Shomo, Judy McGarry, Audrey Bowling, Tracey Bowman, Shari Metz, Daneen McGee and Janice Holt.

“The palliative care team's mission is to provide care to home health patients who are not eligible for or accepting of hospice, but still need a holistic approach to alleviate physical, psychosocial and spiritual concerns when facing a life limiting illness,” Karen Warfield, RN, quality manager, stated.

Mrs. Warfield explained that palliative care is appropriate for patients undergoing treatment for cancer, stroke, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and Alzheimer's disease, among others.

The goal of palliative care is to relieve the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness. Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of an illness, regardless of prognosis, and it can be delivered alongside curative treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.

A Team Effort

The care provided is based on the patient's wishes. The core members of the care team are the patient, family, nurse, physician and social worker. Other members of the team may include therapists, aides, pharmacists, clergy, bereavement specialist and volunteers. These professionals blend their strengths together to meet the medical, psychosocial, spiritual and overall needs of the patient and family.

Mrs. Warfield said the palliative care staff works in collaboration with the patient's primary physician. These physicians are contacted for orders and kept informed of the progress being made.

Planning for the new program began several months ago. The steering committee consisted of Ame Wagner, RN, home care director; Mrs. Warfield; Joyce Wisor, RN, hospice quality manager; Sue Edwards, RN, Clearfield East office manager; Sue Boob, RN, Clearfield West office manager; Kathy Bell and Pam Shurer, social workers; and Lori Parks, bereavement coordinator.

Registered nurses involved with the program received specialized training in pain and symptom management and ethical issues in palliative care nursing, among other topics. Several home health aides also received training for their roles in palliative care.

Referrals and Information

Clearfield Hospital Home Health is now accepting referrals to Tapestries. Patients can be admitted to the program any time symptom control is an issue. Once symptoms are under control, the patient will be discharged to self-care and follow up with their physician.

As the illness progresses and symptom control becomes an issue again, patients may be readmitted to the service, Mrs.Warfield said.

For more information about palliative care, please contact any of these offices: