Medical Professionals
Supportive Care Connections
Your Patients and Supportive Care - What's the Connection?
Dr. Robert SawickiSenior Vice President -
Supportive Care
Four years ago the OSF Healthcare System Board of Directors directed leadership to more closely align our organizations with physicians. One of the ways we are aligning more closely with physicians is including them on task forces, standing committees and our hospital advisory boards. Physicians have been on the OSF Healthcare System Board of Directors for more than 10 years.
The physicians of the Supportive Care Governance Council recognized the need to start communicating about the patient satisfaction results and utilization data for our Supportive Care programs including palliative care, home care and hospice services. And, those same physicians challenged me to keep these periodic messages short, generally 7 lines or less.
Supportive Care Pearls
Robert Sawicki, MD, Senior Vice President of Supportive Care shares his Pearls of Wisdom regarding Supportive Care.
- Supportive Care Pearls #1 - Dyspnea
- Supportive Care Pearls #2 - Heart Disease
- Supportive Care Pearls #3 - Hospice
- Supportive Care Pearls #4 - Pulmonary Disease
- Supportive Care Pearls #5 - Short Acting Opioids
The Physician's Role in the Care of Patients at Home
Article by Dr. Robert Sawicki, Senior Vice President of Supportive Care
Very few doctors receive training in the care of the patient outside of the walls of the hospital or office setting. While most of us don't make house calls, it is important to understand that the vast majority of patients' lives are spent in the home, not in the hospital. A patient with a chronic, progressive illness may have frequent trips to the formal medical setting, where we as doctors can assess and treat their acute needs, but it is truly in the home where life happens.
Patients who meet the appropriate criteria can be served by OSF Home Care Services. These patients are often not able to get out of the house except in dire circumstances or with great difficulty, so the Home Care staff can serve as the physician's eyes and ears. Doctors still must decide treatment and give orders, but can rely on the clinician seeing the patient to assess their condition. Clinicians often develop a close relationship with the patients, and can detect subtle changes that can help identify problems early. Changes in the plan of care can then be made by the physician with the help of the clinician, and this can avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital or emergency department.
Patients are coming home from the hospital quicker than ever before, and are sometimes ill prepared to deal with their condition outside the controlled environment of the hospital. OSF Home Care Services eases that transition, giving them the security of skilled professionals to assess them, and help them along the road to recovery. In patients who are declining, hospice may be the most appropriate service for them. Caring people can help them deal with their condition and manage their symptoms, so that they can truly live each day to the fullest.
Physician house calls are available to patients of OSF Home Care Services. While not an urgent or emergent care service, having a physician see your home-bound patients can assist you in their management, and can offer patients a great peace of mind as well.
