Palliative Care
Comfort, support and care for
Patients with a serious illness or injury
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness or injury. This type of care is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided together with curative treatment.
Who Provides Palliative Care?
Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and other specialists such as chaplains and social workers, who work with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support.
We always work in conjunction with our patient’s physicians, nurses and other caregivers to ensure the best care possible.
Who Can Benefit?
Any patient who is suffering from unrelieved symptoms as a result of a serious or chronic illness such as the following:
Dementia/Failure to Thrive
Heart Disease
Cancer
Pulmonary Disease
Liver Disease
Renal Disease
Neurological Disease
Serious Injury
Uncontrolled Pain
Uncontrolled Shortness of Breath
Declining Ability to Complete Activities of Daily Living
Anxiety, Depression or Spiritual Distress
Our Services
Symptom Relief
Together with our patient’s other doctors and caregivers, our team works to provide relief pain and other symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, insomnia and cough.
Support
We understand the challenges and stress to patients and their family members when faced with a serious illness. Our team provides assistance and counseling to everyone involved in order to reduce stress and anxiety.
Coordination of Care
Our team conducts a thorough evaluation of our patient’s needs and communicates with the patient’s other doctors to address the medication and therapeutic interventions required to improve the
patient’s experience.
Patient Advocacy
We realize that a serious illness can overwhelm patients and their families. After patient and family evaluation, our team will communicate with the primary medical team to coordinate the best care possible. We will also help patients and families understand their care and treatment options so that they make informed
decisions based on their individual values and goals.
End-of-Life Issues
Should this time arrive during our care, we are here to provide assistance that will ensure continued comfort on all levels - physical, emotional and spiritual, for our patient as well as their family.
Requesting Care
If you would like more information about Palliative Care Services at St. Francis Medical Center or would like to request an evaluation, please let a member of your healthcare team know or contact us at (318) 966-1373.
Palliative Care Providers at St. Francis Medical Center
Charles Mason, MD, FACP
Board Certified in Palliative Care by the American Board of Internal Medicine
Sandra Browder, APRN, ACNPC-AG
Lauren Erwin, MSN, ANP-BC
A Palliative Care evaluation can be requested by any patient, family member or healthcare professional. A physician’s order is necessary for a physician consultation.
Advance Directives - Expressing Your Healthcare Wishes
Palliative and Hospice Care Caring Even When We Cannot Cure
Teachings of the Catholic Church - Caring for People at the End of Life
Hospice and Palliative Care - What is the Difference?
Palliative Care Integral to Catholic Healthcare