Dr. Mike Finley, V.P. of Medical Affairs, Glenda Mason (right), Case Management Manager, (both of CHRISTUS St. Michael Health Care Center) with Kathy Douthit (left), Palliative Care Liaison

In 2004, Hospice of Texarkana created a subsidiary, Palliative Care of Texarkana. The program is a medical subspecialty focused on relief of pain, symptoms and stress related to serious illness. The program’s goal is to ensure the highest quality of life possible for patients and their families. Palliative medicine treats serious illness regardless of prognosis and patients can receive it at any point in their illness, with or without curative treatment.

Nearly four years ago, Palliative Care of Texarkana linked arms with CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System to offer the program to patients. Hospice assembled a team of experts who are called on weekly by local physicians to help patients deal with out-of-control symptoms like pain, nausea or anxiety. The Palliative Care team works to give the patient relief using trusted medicines in innovative ways or by putting a new medication combination to work, under the oversight of the patient’s primary physician.

Nationwide, Palliative Care programs are being implemented at a rapid pace. In 2000, there were 632 programs in the U.S. compared with 1,299 today, according to the Center to Advance Palliative Care website. Of the 4,136 hospitals currently appropriate for palliative care programs (psychiatric and rehab hospitals excluded), 31% have a program.

Hospice of Texarkana is proud to service our community by putting our experts' knowledge to work to help people coping with serious illnesses at the hospital, and as they transition home.

For more information, visit the Center to Advance Palliative Care at:www.capc.org