Debbie Salas-Lopez from Lehigh Valley Health Network
Stations, the following is a news announcement. Suggested lead in 3, 2, 1…
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The mission of palliative and end-of-life care is to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones. Now, a local institution has been honored with a Circle of Life Award for its innovation in palliative care and for improving the care of patients near the end of life. It is being held up as a model for others in the field.
Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez from Lehigh Valley Health Network describes their award-winning program.
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PATIENTS WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS ARE IDENTIFIED EARLY AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS VISIT THEM AT HOME, OFTEN FOR YEARS. WE HAVE CLOSELY ALIGNED PALLIATIVE CARE WITH THE FULL CONTINUUM OF CARE INCLUDING INPATIENT CONSULTATIONS AND OUTPATIENT CLINICS, AS WELL AS HOSPICE, ASSISTED LIVING AND A FEDERALLY-QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER. OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAS LED TO A WIDE SUPPORT NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER, CLINICAL AND SOCIAL RESOURCES FOR PATIENTS.
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This is the fifteenth year for the Circle of Life Award. For more information, visit www.aha.org/circleoflife.