Spotlight on Highland’s New Palliative Care Unit

Highland’s new Palliative Care Unit received its first patients on October 10. Located on East 6, the eight-bed unit is led by Palliative Care Division Chief Chin-Lin Ching, M.D., East 6 Medical Director Brandon Wilcoxson, M.D., and East 6 Nurse Manager Kelsey Parnell, RN, BSN. The unit is primarily for patients with terminal illnesses, who are not receiving life-prolonging interventions and whose needs require hospitalization. The team gives patients comfort care and assists them with managing symptoms often experienced during end-of-life, such as pain, delirium, and agitation. An interdisciplinary team also provides emotional support to patients and their support persons. Patients who have a serious illness but are not at the last stages of their condition may also receive care in this unit.

While inpatient palliative care has been available for Highland patients for many years, this is the first time this medical specialty is a consolidated unit with designated beds. “It means the world to me,” said Dr. Ching, who has advocated for and assisted in the creation of the unit. “As a physician, I feel it’s so important to help patients, as well as their families, through their end-of-life journey.” 

Dr. Wilcoxson agrees. “You can make a huge impact by helping someone pass away with dignity and comfort,” he said. Doctors Ching and Wilcoxson say having a designated unit and staff means patients will receive a higher quality of care because staff will have the training and experience specific to end-of-life. The patient and family-focused renovations include a private space for providers and staff to discuss difficult situations with those receiving care and their support persons and a peaceful atmosphere where they feel welcomed and comforted throughout difficult times.   

Parnell says nursing for end-of-life requires clinical excellence.  She adds that palliative care inspires high levels of empathy, compassion, and creativity which makes the work meaningful and rewarding. She and the East 6 (formally East 7) team have made possible several last wishes that patients expressed. Among them are arranging a wedding on the unit for two end-of-life patients and numerous visits for patients who wanted to see their beloved pets. Perhaps the most memorable was when a patient who was a farmer asked to see his favorite cow.  Arrangements were made to allow the trailer carrying cow to park outside the hospital. “This nursing specialty is definitely rewarding and a calling,” she said.

East 6 has a total of 18 beds.  In addition to those needing end-of-life care, the unit is for stroke and tikosyn patients. 

10/20/2023

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