Choices Palliative & Supportive Care at Home, a new program of Hospice & Community Care, provides specialized care at home for people living with serious illness. Palliative care is a subspecialty of medicine devoted to managing the symptoms of serious illness versus managing the illness itself. “We care for patients living with serious illness and assist with things like symptom management, advance care planning and helping patients create a plan of care that supports their goals and wishes,” explains Dr. Colleen Hazlett-O’Brien, director of in-home palliative care. “Palliative care is for people who want to improve their quality of life, who are looking to understand their illness and to understand what their treatment options are related to their illness, and who want to ensure they are getting the type of care that is right for them and their loved ones.”

“Palliative care helps people understand the choices that they have available to them regarding their care and comfort,” shares Hazlett-O’Brien. “We are giving patients a sense of control over their lives at a time when illness has taken away much of that control. We can give patients and families information to allow them to make choices with knowledge and forethought. It is very powerful to give control back to our patients. Control is in short supply for people with serious illness.”

Every member of the Choices team helps patients with decision-making and life planning. They also educate patients and families on how to manage their own symptoms.

Director of Specialty Services Steve Sensenich, RN, says, “What I love about supportive and palliative care in general is that the care that we provide to patients doesn’t need to fit into a box. The Choices program allows us to tailor what services we provide to patients based on what they need. It’s not only an efficient way to provide services, but a customized plan of care for patients. We can make our program what we want it to be and what it needs to be for patients.” The Choices program provides care to adults facing a serious illness and can be provided along with curative approaches such as cancer treatments, dialysis, or cardiac/pulmonary rehab.

“The Choices program aligns most effectively with our mission and skill set, as we excel at taking care of patients at home,” explains Dr. Vermette, vice president and chief medical officer. “The program also exposes more people to Hospice & Community Care. Many people think that palliative care means that a patient is near end of life or must have a short prognosis. The Choices program allows us to expand what we can do for patients who are further out in their disease process.”

Hazlett-O’Brien notes, “What makes our program unique is that we have the ability to bring a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, social worker and chaplain into patients’ homes through a mixture of telehealth and in-person visits. Unlike traditional palliative care programs, which often provide outpatient care in a traditional clinic setting, we will go to the patient, eliminating any barriers for patients who find it difficult to leave their homes for medical appointments. Our team works closely with a patient’s community providers, and anyone can make a referral to Choices including patients and family members, not just medical providers.”

Sensenich advises, “We are not here to take the place of the patient’s family doctor or specialist. Our goal is to work with those who the patient is already working with to help manage their symptoms. We are the eyes and ears in the home for primary care physicians and specialists.”