Palliative Care Services

CONNIE SEWELL, MD

Pardee Cancer Center is committed to offering full comprehensive care to their patients, and has partnered with Four Seasons Palliative Care since 2018 to provide palliative care services. Palliative Care is collaborative, patient-centered care, focusing on providing relief from symptoms and improving quality of life for people who are facing a serious illness. Palliative care clinicians can help manage symptoms (including psychological and emotional needs), help with communication about goals and treatment preferences, coordinate with other supportive services such as home care or home health, or help with planning for future medical care. Palliative care services are often combined with other types of treatment, adding an extra layer of support for people with serious illness and their families.

Patients, families, or any member of the oncology team may request a consult with a palliative care clinician. The initial consultation is at Pardee Cancer Center, and then follow-up care may be scheduled. The community palliative care team consists of specialty-trained clinicians (MDs or nurse practitioners), a social worker, and telephonic support with registered nurses and administrative personnel. Pardee has a palliative care team for inpatient consultations, usually centered around goals of care discussions and complex medical decision making for acutely ill patients.

In 2019, Four Seasons Palliative Care received 107 referrals from Pardee oncologists (compared to 58 referrals in 2018), and provided initial consultation and follow-up for 94 of these patients and their families. On average, there were 28 visits per month with the palliative care clinician, provided mostly at the cancer center, and occasionally at home or at a rehabilitation facility. In addition, the Palliative Care LCSW provided independent visits either via telephone or in person for ten of these patients. Patients may have only one visit, which is their initial consultation, or may be followed as often as once a month – visits are determined by patient’s goals and needs. Of those referrals requesting support in specific areas, approximately 80 percent requested collaboration with the oncology team to assist with symptom management, and 70 percent requested discussions exploring goals of care and complex decision making. These discussions may involve exploring transition to hospice services if a patient and family decide to shift focus from intensive medical therapies to symptom management and remaining at home for as long as possible. Although two-thirds of the referrals were for patients with stage IV or advanced cancer, the palliative care team is available to support any person struggling with cancer at any stage of their illness. 

Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) students show their support for cancer survivors. BRCC also occupies a floor of the Henderson County Health Sciences Center, the same building in which Pardee Cancer Center is housed.