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Palliative
Care/Hospice
The Palliative Care Service (PCS) continued to be an integral
part of the clinical, educational, and research programs in
the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics and COA. It
was involved in the care of patients at UAMS and the Little
Rock VA Medical Center who have far-advanced illnesses for
which no curative therapy is being offered. Educational and
clinical services have expanded during the past year. Two
part-time physicians have been added to the PCS staff to help
with teaching and clinical loads. Two clinical research projects,
which are ongoing, were initiated in the past year.
PCS physicians include A. Reed Thompson, MD, assistant professor;
Delbra R. Caradine, MD, assistant professor; and Theresa Travis,
MD, assistant clinical professor. Dr. Thompson was appointed
Medical Director of the Arkansas Hospice in April 1999, and
Dr. Caradine was appointed Associate Medical Director in March
2000. The Arkansas Hospice Inpatient Unit opened at the North
Little Rock VA Medical Center in January 2000. Geriatrics
fellows and hematology/oncology fellows participate in the
care of hospice patients admitted to the Arkansas Hospice
inpatient and outpatient services.
Ambulatory patients are seen in the hospital and in the outpatient
clinics at UAMS and the Little Rock VA Medical Center. Outpatient
clinical services continue at 3 half days per week at UAMS.
The clinical service at the VA Medical Center has expanded
to two half-day clinics per week. Hospital consults are answered
at both hospitals, as they are received 5 days per week. When
clinic patients are no longer ambulatory, they are referred
to community hospice organizations. PCS physicians act as
the primary care physicians for most PCS patients referred
to hospices, which means that they continue to be responsible
for end-of-life care. Nonambulatory patients who live in the
Little Rock area are visited by PCS physicians at home on
a limited basis.
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