NEW JERSEY — VNA Health Group recently celebrated the 5 year anniversary of its Palliative Care Program at Community Medical Center (CMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, with a special gathering held at the hospital. Launched in March 2016, the Palliative Care Program at CMC was established by Marianne Holler, DO, FACOI, FAAHPM, VNA Health Group’s Chief Medical Officer, Palliative and Hospice Physician. With the support of Community Medical Center staff and leadership as well as the Grunin Foundation, the palliative program has grown to over 10,000 visits in the past 5 years.
Dr. Steven Landers, President and CEO, VNA Health Group commented, “We are honored to celebrate the wonderful partnership with Community Medical Center and to bring such an important service to the hospital and the community. The program has had a tremendous impact on patients and families dealing with a life-limiting illness by helping people live their best life.”
According to Patrick Ahearn, Chief Executive Officer of Community Medical Center, “Palliative care is needed in our hospital and the community, especially since Ocean County has a high concentration of older adults. Our mission is to help and cure people, as well as improve the quality of life in our area, and that includes people with serious illnesses. We are thankful to be working with such a passionate and caring team at VNA Health Group. We are also grateful to the Grunin Foundation, who has supported both the VNA’s palliative care program, as well as multiple Community Medical Center programs. We look forward to working together with these important partners to ensure palliative care becomes part of the mainstream healthcare continuum.”
The palliative care team at CMC includes Dr. Holler, along with Seema Varma, MD, VNA Health Group Palliative Medicine Physician and Medical Director, Hospice & Palliative Care, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, as well as newly hired palliative nurse practitioner, Kimberly Hitchens, who provides palliative consults in the community along with Vandana Sharma, MD, VNA Health Group Palliative Medicine Physician.
Serious illness has tremendous and far-reaching effects upon patients and families. A lack of information and understanding about end-of-life care can result in confusion, anxiety and doubt. Palliative medicine is an individualized approach to addressing the physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs of patients and families facing serious or life-limiting illness.
Dr. Holler’s passion for providing quality end of life care led her to develop the palliative program at CMC. Due to the region’s older population, she felt there was a real need to provide support that was missing. She and Dr. Varma collaborated with CMC physicians, nursing staff, case managers and social workers to educate them about palliative care and its value and benefits.
“Palliative care is a blessing”, said Dr. Holler. “We spend time with patients and families and have those heart to heart conversations about the patient’s wishes and goals. Although we may not be able to change the outcome, we can change how the patients and families experience that outcome. The incredible impact that palliative care has had on patients’ outlook and quality of life is extraordinary.”
“We have to reframe the conversation and let patients know there’s a lot more we can do. And that is focusing on patient-centered goals and helping the patient and families to think about what’s important”, said Holler. “There needs to be a shift to value-based services, positive outcomes, shared savings and keeping the patient as stable and comfortable as possible.”
“The future of palliative care is bright given that people are living longer and are more concerned about comfort and independence, managing symptoms and meeting their life goals,” said Dr. Landers. “Palliative care is becoming more relevant with the focus on value and quality of care.”
For more information about VNA Health Group’s Palliative Care Program, call 732-224-6654.
