For anyone with a diagnosis of breast cancer, life can suddenly become overwhelming. Many people board the “what if” train and ride it all the way to the end of the line in their minds. Mirasol Health offers a patient care option for those who are still in active treatment and helps to make the diagnosis and treatment manageable. This treatment is called Palliative Care.
Lowcountry Palliative Care, a service of Mirasol Health, helps patients live their most comfortable life by improving the ability to undergo medical treatments and aligning treatment plans to personal health goals. An expert team provides education on illnesses, addresses emotional and physical discomfort, and empowers patients and families to maintain the best quality of life. According to Nurse Practitioner Megan Swartz, palliative care is a specialized area of care focusing on chronic and serious illness management and symptom management for patients diagnosed with serious illnesses such as breast cancer. The focus is on pain management, nausea management, gastrointestinal distress, and/or shortness of breath whether from the illness or treatment. Care givers also participate in coordination of care for the patients to ensure all the providers a patient with breast cancer (or other serious illnesses) to look at the patient and their care holistically. The palliative nurse practitioners also conduct a lot of education making sure the patient and their family members understand the extent of what is going on regarding the patient’s illness and the treatment option. The practitioners do not attend doctor visits with the patient, but they do request their records so the nurse practitioner can coordinate the care in the patient’s home. The visits are via Teleheath or home depending on whether it’s a nurse practitioner or a nurse in the home. Mirasol/Lowcountry Palliative Care also sends their records to the patient’s providers ensuring the goal of all aspects of care and providers are on the same page. Swartz likes to say, “we are an extension in the home of the patient’s primary providers. Then we can see where things are lacking and let the rest of the team know.” Palliative care providers advocate for the patient always focusing on quality of life. This palliative aspect of care also helps with access to care especially in areas where getting access to care can be difficult.
Lowcountry Palliative Care of Mirasol Health truly is an option of care for those who have been diagnosed with a serious illness, such a breast cancer with caring nurses and practitioners who truly have the patient’s wellbeing in mind.
