6 HEALTH COMPASS Late Summer 2025 Introducing palliative care at CMH CMH is excited to announce the start of a palliative care program this fall in conjunction with its services at Lower Columbia Hospice (now Lower Columbia Hospice & Palliative Care). When we share this news with people, the first question we are asked is usually, “How is palliative care different from hospice?” The confusion is easy to understand, and even many health care professionals aren’t sure how the two programs are different. Palliative care vs. hospice There are shared goals between hospice and palliative care. They both seek to minimize symptoms and help improve quality of life for as long as possible. The main difference is that to qualify for hospice care, a person has stopped seeking treatment for their medical condition and has an estimated life expectancy of six months or less. Many people struggle with symptoms from their illness or the side effects caused by treating that illness, but they don’t qualify for hospice, and they want to continue with their current treatment plan. Our palliative care program seeks to help that group of people. How palliative care works Palliative care providers work in close collaboration with a person’s referring provider to target their specific needs. The program will consist of a nurse practitioner, Amanda Shields, MSN, ANP-C; a social worker; and spiritual support from the CMH chaplain. Registered nurses will also help as needed for additional support. Like hospice, the program will be community-based. This means that we will go to each person’s home for visits. In addition to routine visits made at the agreedupon time, a nurse will be available after-hours, by phone, for emergent needs. The team will also be able to assist people with advance care planning, helping people understand available options and making sure individual goals align with their treatment plan. The pilot palliative care program began in mid-August, and the goal is to begin expanding services throughout Clatsop County next year. Interested in palliative care? Visit columbiamemorial.org/palliative-care to learn more about the services offered by our team.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODQ1MTY=