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Coalition Activities

Dr. Jessica Israel Speaks on Palliative Care

Dr. Jessica L. Israel speaks on palliative care at the December 7, 2006 Quarterly Meeting of the Monmouth Cancer Coalition.

Dr. Jessica Israel Speaks on Palliative Care

Jessica L. Israel, M.D. was the featured speaker at the Coalition's quarterly meeting on December 7, 2006.   She presented an illuminating discussion of palliative care, its definitions, goals and informational aspects as well as the benefits it brings to patients with chronic disease.  

 

Palliative medicine is a relatively new discipline and one that is often misunderstood.   It is the active, total care of patients whose diseases are not responsive to curative treatment.    Symptom control is paramount and includes physical, psychological, social, spiritual wellbeing.   Its goal is to achieve the best possible quality of life.   While often equated with hospice, aspects of palliative care can apply earlier in the disease.    "It's good medical care for patients with serious medical illness."

 

Often, communicating bad news can be difficult.   Dr. Israel proposes an organized process for health care professionals:

*       Arrange the physical context and emotional atmosphere.

*       Find out how much the patient knows.

*       Find out how much the patient wants to know.

*       Share information.

*       Respond to feelings.

*       Make a plan and follow through.

 

Dr. Israel also suggested how to work with patients about advance directive discussions.   She advises her patients to:

*       Think about past experience

*       Think about values and meaning

*       Move past the fact that no one wants to think about these things

*       Talk, Talk, Talk

*       Take advantage of opportunities to set goals.

 

Dr. Jacobs is Division Chief of Palliative Care and Geriatrics, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.  She is also Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

 

Pictured above: Dr. Jessica L. Israel, left, and Theresa L. Beck, Chair of the Monmouth Cancer Coalition

 


Patricia H. Virga, Ph.D. is the Monmouth Cancer Coalition Coordinator.  She also serves as Vice President for Consulting Services at New Solutions, Inc., New Brunswick, New Jersey