palliative care Archives
Study shows palliative care provided at point of oncology surgery does not improve patient outcomes
May. 11, 2023—New Vanderbilt research provides evidence that the addition of palliative care services earlier in the disease process, specifically to patients having surgery for cancer, does not demonstrate benefits to the patients.
Program extends palliative care knowledge to improve patient care
Nov. 18, 2021—A new resource at Vanderbilt is helping medical students, residents and even long-standing medical faculty to enhance their palliative care skills.
Fleming reflects on a life of love, purpose after terminal cancer diagnosis
Jun. 4, 2020—A month before his 49th birthday, Geoffrey Fleming, MD, had a biopsy of his liver to diagnose an unidentified metastatic disease that he already knew was “something bad.”
Bereavement calls helping to aid grieving families
Jun. 4, 2020—There has been nothing normal about the COVID-19 pandemic, and grieving the loss of a life at a time when families have been unable to gather beside a bedside to say goodbye, or to even hold a traditional funeral, has been one of the worst consequences of this health crisis’s uncharted territory.
Vigil Volunteers seeks those with compassion to spare
Feb. 27, 2020—Dan Kula remembers entering a patient’s room on the Palliative Care Unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and immediately sensing the man’s agitation, which can be a symptom for those who are terminally ill.
Pediatric diabetes, palliative care focus of new Friends of Children’s Hospital gift
Jan. 16, 2020—Friends of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a volunteer organization, recently committed $1 million over the next three years to be split between two crucial pediatric programs: diabetes and palliative care.
Study shows benefit of palliative care for liver disease patients
Sep. 12, 2019—A Vanderbilt study sheds new light on the impact of palliative care.
Diversity of conference attendees mirrors increasing support for palliative care
Jun. 13, 2019—More than 80 people attended a Palliative Care Conference in Nashville recently that was led by faculty members of the Palliative Care programs at VUMC and the Nashville VA Medical Center, and VUMC Center for Biomedical Ethics.
Events to focus on education about advance directives
Apr. 4, 2019—Health care professionals throughout the United States are encouraging patients and their families to document their preferences related to their health care during an awareness campaign known as National Healthcare Decisions Day, celebrated on Tuesday, April 16. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is hosting several events for employees to promote the importance of completing an advance directive for health care.
Project seeks to ease confusion about advance directives
Mar. 21, 2019—While Vanderbilt University School of Medicine student Jon Alverio was on rotation with the Vanderbilt Health Palliative Care team, he witnessed the confusion patients often have as they try to complete an advance directive for health care, and he decided to do something about it.
Songwriting aids palliative care nurse in cancer fight
Nov. 15, 2018—Megan Palmer, RN, a nurse in the Palliative Care Unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, wears many hats, but she never imagined writing a song about a perfect Stetson cowboy hat would hold such powerful meaning in her life.
Initiative stresses importance of advance directives
Apr. 12, 2018—While many might prefer to not think about dying, healthcare professionals throughout the United States are encouraging patients and their families to do just that during a national awareness campaign April 16-22 that promotes the importance of completing an advance directive for healthcare.