Stamford Health announced the relaunch of an enhanced palliative care program, with services being offered to all patients in the Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center.
The program expands the current palliative care offerings for Stamford Hospital inpatients, including symptom relief, advanced care planning, and in-depth communication about care goals.
The program will also focus on spiritual care, which pays special attention to the emotional experiences of patients and families.
“Spiritual care is unique for each individual,” offered Rev. ReBecca Sala, Stamford Health’s manager of spiritual care. “Everyone deserves peace, healing, and support as they go through treatment. Our team of chaplains supports all our patients, with a special focus on palliative care patients. Our team hopes to improve their mental, physical, and spiritual health.”
Stamford Health developed the new program with guidance through their collaboration with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center. The program was funded in part by the Kanarek Family Foundation and Robin Bennett Kanarek, who authored the book “Living Well with a Serious Illness: A Guide to Palliative Care for Mind, Body and Spirit.” The donation helped build a palliative care consultation room in the Bennett Cancer Center and is being used to fund education for Stamford Health care partners.
“Our expert palliative care providers create a layer of support to improve quality of life and help patients manage all facets of living with a serious illness,” said Dr. Sherry Ng, medical director of palliative care at Stamford Health. “Palliative care is such an important part of the patient experience. Our new program ensures our patients receive comprehensive care across the inpatient and outpatient setting.”
Photo courtesy Stamford Health
