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ABOUT US Meet
Our Team Fellows MGH Palliative Care Service The MGH Palliative Care Service was established under the Department of Medicine in October of 1996. The goal of the service is to provide comprehensive, coordinated health and wellness care to patients and families facing a life-threatening or terminal illness, helping them maintain the highest possible quality of life and comfort. The 1996 team was comprised of an attending physician , an advanced practice nurse, a half time social worker, a quarter time chaplain and a full-time administrative assistant. In 1997, a second attending physician was added to the service. A full-time social worker was added in 1998, and a full-time bereavement/volunteer/community liaison position was established in 2001. The staff presently has grown to include six attending physicians, three Nurse Practitioners, and liaisons from Chaplaincy, Pharmacy and Psychiatry. In 1997 the first Memorial Service was held. These services are held biannually in the MGH Chapel, and families and friends of patients served are invited to the services as well as staff. In 2001, the first group of volunteers was trained to provide support to patient and families. The Palliative Care Service admitted 986 patients and families last year, most of whom are inpatients at Mass General. The Service at present also operates an outpatient clinic Monday-Friday in the Yawkey Building. The service now cares for patients seen on MGH hospital units, in the outpatient clinic, in their homes, and in a nearby nursing home. The team is very involved with ongoing continuing education through courses and workshops for physician specialty groups, nursing specialty groups and social work conferences. Since 1997, the service has held weekly Grand Rounds during the academic year focusing on various topics pertinent to palliative care. This is a continuing medical education series offering CMEs and nursing CEUs. Staff members have written numerous articles, papers, and book chapters. Also in 1997, graduate nurses specializing in gerontology or HIV/AIDS began doing their preceptorship with the Service. In 1998, the Palliative Care Service began the physician fellowship program with one fellow. The Harvard Palliative Medicine Fellowship, a joint program between MGH, DFCI and BWH, now offers eight fellowships annually. In addition, there have been social work fellowships as requested. The service hosts numerous continental and international visitors, and participates in several research activities.. Other ongoing efforts include: The Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care, and the Medical Intensive Care Unit project. Awards and recognition include: 2000 Partners in Excellence Award for the Team, Nominee in 1998 for the AHA Circle of Life Award, Nominee in 1998 and 1999 for the Kenneth B.Schwartz Caregiver Award. Generous gifts from community supporters, The Friends of the MGH Cancer
Center, The Ladies Volunteer Committee, Making A Difference, The MayDay
Foundation, the NCI, NIH and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have helped
establish and promote programs to improve palliative care for the MGH
community. |
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