In a recent survey of the states, Oklahoma received an "F" on a report card on palliative care offered in hospitals.  This is a state-wide, interdisciplinary resource center to provide educational resources and support to health providers ready to work together to raise that grade and bring it home to Oklahomans who expect and deserve quality care in the most vulnerable times of illness.

What is "Palliative Care"? It is "HOPE"!



The Institute of Medicine (1997) defined palliative care as care which ". . .seeks to prevent, relieve, reduce, or soothe the symptoms of disease or disorder without affecting a cure."

Palliative care is medical treatment that is directed to "care" for the physical, spiritual and psychological needs of patients and support for their caretakers.

Palliative care should be available to both adults and children early in the course of any medical treatment, and particularly in treatment of serious, chronic illness.

It should be provided alongside any medical treatment intended to "cure" illness and continued to provide quality of life "care" when there is no cure.

Palliative care is the response to a patient's and family's hope for effective pain management and emotional comfort from physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and other health providers who never stop caring, who never give up on comfort, who always put the patient first.  Palliative care is the "good news"  in difficult times of serious, chronic illness.




Contact:  Annette Prince,  annette-prince@ouhsc.edu

Pet Hospice

Palliative Care is important for pets too !
Hospice for pets offered by "Pawspice"

Bix & Harry

Dogs and Death, two centenarians will be missed. more

This is the "Catcher" and her pup "Rudi".  They are the co-editors of this "Palliative Care for Pets" portion of the blog.

Catcher & Rudi go for a ride to celebrate World Hospice & Palliative Care Day with friends.

Tabitha (Tabby) lived with Carole Kenner and her dad and ran the family like any devoted Bichon Frise would. She kept count of the treats in dad's pocket and visitors had to pass her inspection point at the front door to ensure security for the Dean of the O.U. College of Nursing.  For all who made her acquaintance, we won't just"remember" her, we will never forget her.

October 2, 2009                                   Bobby, Tara & Paisley

Paisley, the miniature poodle was a great comfort to Joie, Robert and Tara when son Bobby died.  Paisley was 15 years old when she died at home with Joie and Robert at her side.

                   

. B.W.(Bow Wow) Winnicott rides her sidecar to visit nursing home residents. "Winnie" struggled with bladder cancer, so she knew the importance of comfort care when no cure is available.

Annabelle made every day a holiday for the Warren family, every hour a celebration, every minute a blessing. Her memory lives in the hearts of all who were blessed to meet her.

Amazing Grace, "Gracie" is a wonderful comfort to her family
since Annabelle's death. She was with Annabelle when she needed her most.

Tabby, Winnie, and Paisley (drawn below by Andrew Prince) were our babies and during our 4 years working together at the College of Nursing, Carole, Joie, and I had some good times and some hard times.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Our candles burnt at both ends, they didn't last the night, but ah our friends and oh our foes, they made a lovely sight.  We are known by our enemies as well as our friends for they reveal our character.  Catcher and Rudi will miss Romeo but we plan to visit him in Boston until he comes back home.  Until then, know that there is no more ferocious loyalty than that of a terrier.