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late October 2004 Palliative Care now available at Sharon Regional Designed for patients with an advanced, progressive illness and their families, Palliative Care at Sharon Regional is a special program that focuses on pain and symptom management along with support services. Palliative Care recognizes that patients with serious, often life-threatening, illnesses have very complex needs, and creates a care plan that helps patients maintain an acceptable quality of life while addressing a number of advanced care planning issues. The Palliative Care Team at Sharon Regional is under the direction of George Garrow, M.D., who serves as Director of Medical Oncology at Sharon Regional's Cancer Care Center. He is board certified in both medical oncology and palliative care. Palliative Care at Sharon Regional is provided through a coordinated team of healthcare professionals who are dedicated to addressing the complex needs of the patients and their families. This team includes the palliative care physicians and nurses, along with social workers, pharmacists, dietitians, chaplains, plus physical, occupational, and speech and respiratory therapists. Palliative care differs from hospice care in that hospice is designed for patients with a life-limiting illness and a limited, predictable prognosis who have chosen to remain at home, in a nursing home, or an assisted living center. Sharon Regional's Palliative Care Program is provided during hospitalization for patients with advanced disease and unpredictable prognoses. Palliative Care aids family members and loved ones in several ways, including instruction about how to care for patients, arrangements for support when families need time to care for themselves, and emotional and spiritual support. Advance care planning takes place among the patient, family, and Palliative Care Team. The goal of advance care planning is to address these issues before a crisis occurs. By having an advance care plan in place, the patient's and family's wishes are clear and the Palliative Care Team can honor them. For more information on the Palliative Care Program at Sharon Regional, please call 724-983-3878. |  |
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