Hospice of Western Kentucky expands palliative care program

Jan. 14--It's no longer just Hospice of Western Kentucky. As of November, the name officially changed to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky.

For the past year, the nonprofit has focused on expanding its existing palliative care program. Part of that effort includes community education about the difference between hospice and palliative care.

Both types of care provide comfort, but there is one major difference. Patients can receive palliative care from the time of diagnosis and continue with it throughout aggressive medical treatments. Hospice care, on the other hand, begins after treatments have stopped, and it becomes clear the patient won't survive.

"Palliative care is more individualized care," said Bethany Mulligan, palliative care manager at Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky. "We offer an extra layer of support."

Anyone suffering from pain and symptoms related to cancer, heart disease, lung disease, Alzheimer's, HIV, Parkinson's and other chronic illnesses may benefit from palliative care.

Services include in-home visits, 24-hour access to a nurse, pharmacological intervention and spiritual counseling, to name a few. Patients of any age are welcome.

This time last year, the local palliative care program had about 120 patients. Now, it has more than 200, Mulligan said.

Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky operates the only outpatient program in the region, she said. It caters to people who are "home limited," which means it is taxing for them to leave their homes for doctors' appointments and medical treatments.

Palliative care is administered wherever a person resides, including nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

Patients who suffer from chronic illnesses often take a day or longer to recover after leaving their homes for medical visits, said Emily Cadiz, outreach liaison. Also, many patients, such as those who suffer from dementia, can't drive.

"If they can have visits in their homes and do not have to go out, physicians appreciate that," Cadiz said.

Palliative care also provides support to caregivers.

Currently, the program employs two full-time nurse practitioners and three others on an as-needed basis. The program accepts patients from Daviess, Muhlenberg, Hopkins and Hancock counties but hopes to expand beyond that area.

"We would like to double the number of patients we are currently serving," said Belinda Blair, CEO. "It's such a needed service."

No doctor referral is required, but once a patient enrolls, his or her physicians are contacted to collaborate on the best plan of care.

Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance companies pay for palliative care. The potential of a co-payment exists; however, Mulligan said Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky never turns away a patient because of inability to pay.

For more information, go to www.hospiceofwky.org or call 270-926-7565 or 800-466-5348.

Renee Beasley Jones, 270-228-2835, rbeasleyjones@messenger-inquirer.com

___

(c)2019 the Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Ky.)

Visit the Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Ky.) at www.messenger-inquirer.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.