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Symptom and Pain Management
Provided at Home
Palliative care is a team-based methodology emphasizing symptom management and support for patients facing difficult medical decisions while struggling with the challenges of coping with serious illness. Dr. Ricardo Febry personally oversees and develops each patient’s palliative treatments to ensure that each of our patient’s medical care fits their individual pain management needs. Dr. Ricardo Febry personally oversees and develops each patient’s palliative treatments to ensure that each of our patient’s medical care fits their individual pain management needs.
Palliative care can be combined with curative treatment during any stage of a severe illness, such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. Palliative care is also a practical option for those not ready for hospice care but may benefit from a customized care approach. Many times, a person with a life-limiting illness has a difficult time finding purpose in their life. Palliative Care providers can help patients and their families address issues, expectations, hopes, needs, and fears. Often, when receiving palliative care, many patients experience a better quality of life and reduced stress soon after their symptoms have been brought under control.
The history of palliative care can be traced back to ancient times when care for the seriously ill was typically provided by family members and religious institutions. However, the modern concept of palliative care began to take shape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the establishment of specialized hospices for the terminally ill.
One of the earliest examples of hospice care was established in London, England, in 1967 by Dame Cicely Saunders, a nurse, social worker, and physician. Saunders began to develop a new approach to care for the terminally ill, which emphasized comfort, dignity, and quality of life. She established St. Christopher’s Hospice, which provided care for patients with terminal illnesses and their families in a home-like setting.
The modern palliative care movement began to gain traction in the 1970s, with the formation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) program for the control of pain and other symptoms in cancer patients. In the 1980s and 1990s, palliative care began to be recognized as a separate medical specialty, and training programs for palliative care physicians and nurses were established in many countries.
Today, palliative care is recognized as an important aspect of healthcare and is provided in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and the patient’s home. It is provided by a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other specialists.
The most common palliative care medications are used to manage symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and shortness of breath. The specific medications used will depend on the patient’s symptoms and the underlying cause of their illness.
Some of the most common medications used in palliative care include:
It’s important to note that palliative care medications are tailored to each individual patient, and the specific medications used will depend on the patient’s symptoms, underlying condition, and response to treatment.
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care