“Palliative” means to provide relief from the symptoms, suffering and stress of serious illness. Palliative care provides an extra layer of support for patients and families dealing with serious illnesses. At TriHealth, our Palliative Medicine Team focuses on relieving the symptoms and stress of patients and families facing any serious illness - like advanced cancer, heart failure, dementia, chronic kidney disease, liver failure and chronic lung disease and others.
Palliative (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) care helps improve the quality of life of patients and families by focusing on two main areas:
- Symptom management: We can help treat the most troubling symptoms of serious illness –trouble breathing, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, depression, spiritual distress, pain or any other issue affecting someone’s quality of life.
- Communication and decision-making: We discuss patient goals and values and ensure that patients and their families understand their illness and their treatment options. By building strong partnerships, we can help patients to make informed decisions about their care.
Important Things to Know About Palliative Care:
- Palliative care is for anyone with a serious illness. “At any age or any stage”, palliative care can help manage the symptoms of the disease and the side effects of medical treatments.
- It is not the same as hospice.With palliative care, the patient and family are getting a team of specialists to support their needs – regardless of the treatment you are receiving. On the other hand, hospice care is often provided at home, and is a great support for patients and families no longer receiving curative treatment and with a limited life expectancy.
- Palliative care treats the whole person, not just the serious illness. Our team will address the physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and families.
How to Get Palliative Care at TriHealth
At TriHealth, you can request a palliative care referral from your doctor or nurse practitioner. If you have questions about how to get palliative care, give us a call at one of the contact numbers on this page.
Where to Get Palliative Care at TriHealth
- In the hospital. The TriHealth Palliative Medicine Team provides consultation for adult patients admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital, Bethesda North Hospital, and Bethesda Butler Hospital.
- In the Cancer Center. The TriHealth Cancer Institute now offers a Supportive and Palliative Care Clinic, which provides support to patients going through cancer treatment.
- At home. TriHealth now offers a home-based program called PalliaCare, which provides routine home visits with palliative care doctors, nurse practitioners, and social workers for patients in their homes in Cincinnati as well as the following counties: Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Clinton, and Warren.
Meet Our Team Members
The TriHealth Palliative Medicine Team is comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses who have special training in palliative care. Our team also includes social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, therapists, dietitians, and other professionals.
Our Leadership
- Manish Srivastava, MD, FAAHPM - Medical Director
- Steven Robinson, MD, FAAHPM - Associate Medical Director
- Kelly Ebbing, MSN, RN, CV-BC - Program Manager
Our Providers
- Christine Abner, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC
- Erin Baldos, MD, FACP
- Maki Fukunishi, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
- Theresa Goehring, MSN, APRN, CNP
- Christine Kearney, MA, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
- Krista Korey, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC
- Rebecca Krueger, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
- Maryann Lancaster, DNP, RN, AGACNP-BC
- Sara Maples, MD
- Brittany Meyer, APRN, MSN, AGNP-C, ACHPN
- Catherine Pham, MD
- Puja Kesari Srivastava, MD
Our Nurses
- Kathy Bauman, RN, CHPN
- Joan Bauman, LPN
- Sarah Libstorff, BSN, RN
- Cindy Shivers, BSN, RN
- Donna Sweemer, RN
- Patti Watson, BSN, RN
Our Social Workers
- Tesa Scholl, LSW
Learn More About Palliative Care
The Center to Advance Palliative Care
More resources from the Center to Advance Palliative Care
Palliative Care Fact Sheet from the National Cancer Institute
Information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Improving Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit
Connect With Others
Alzheimer’s Association Cincinnati