Forbes Regional Hospital to Offer Palliative Care Program

Beginning in July, Forbes Regional Hospital will offer a palliative care consultation service to physicians, nurses, patients and families.

Palliative care services focus on improving the quality of life of people facing serious and chronic illness. Patients can receive palliative care throughout their illness trajectory, even while receiving life-prolonging treatments.

Supporting this program is a full-time nurse practitioner, Terry Hurley, CRNP, who will be available to assist both inpatients and home bound patients with pain and symptom management, care team coordination and communication. Another aspect of Hurley’s job is to help patients determine their health care goals.

“Palliative care is different for every patient,” said Hurley in a news release. “I work closely with patients to provide them with information regarding their care options, and then we formulate a plan individualized to them and their wishes.” She works closely with all members of a patient’s care team including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists and others.

Many patients receiving palliative care choose to be at home, she said.

“They want to be at home where they are comfortable versus receiving aggressive care or treatments in a hospital setting.”

Studies have shown that patients who receive palliative care actually live longer than patients with chronic illnesses and diseases who do not receive palliative care. 

Since palliative care also focuses on communication between patients and their care teams, patients’ care tends to be better managed and to involve fewer high-level services such as stays in the intensive care unit. Patients are also better transitioned to home or hospice care, which decreases the rate of hospital readmissions.

In addition to Forbes Regional, within the West Penn Allegheny Health System, Allegheny General Hospital offers a palliative care consultation service. To learn more about the program at Forbes Regional, please contact 412-398-8454.