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Miracle Foundation Palliative Care Center:
It’s All About Quality of Life
Patients living with a
serious illness can find
pain relief and address
symptom management
at home, in the company of
their loved ones, courtesy of the
Miracle Foundation Palliative
Care Center.
“The Miracle Foundation
Palliative Care Center dialogues
with patients and families
living with advanced illnesses
about treatment options,
offers emotional support and
makes them as comfortable
as possible,” said Maureen
Hinkelman, chief executive
officer of the Hospice Care
Network, part of the North
Shore-LIJ Health System.
Palliative care is
comprehensive, individualized
medical treatment that
complements curative
therapies for patients with
life-threatening illness. In
February and April 2011,
Governor Cuomo passed two
important pieces of legislation
to address it. The Palliative
Care Information Act requires
that attending physicians
and nurse practitioners
offer terminally ill patients
information and counseling
concerning palliative care
and appropriate end-of-life
options. According to the
New York State Department of
Health, the law helps to ensure
that patients are fully informed
of their options when they face
a terminal illness or condition.
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Jim Kennedy
The second law, the
Palliative Care Access
Act, requires hospitals,
nursing homes, home care
agencies and assisted living
residences to provide access to
information and counseling
about palliative care to
patients with advanced,
life-limiting conditions and
illnesses. These providers
must also facilitate access to
palliative care consultation
and services that are
consistent with the patient’s
needs and preferences.
“We are always looking for
better ways to serve the patients
and families in our community.
Many families have told us that
they wished they had known
sooner about palliative care and
hospice service options. The
Miracle Foundation Palliative
Care Center addresses this
concern by providing a useful
venue to help physicians attend
to the new requirements,” said
Ms. Hinkelman.
This unique center
is generously funded by a
$500,000 grant from the
Miracle Foundation, an
organization founded by
Patti and Michael Tenaglia
and dedicated to improving
the lives of those diagnosed
with cancer and other lifethreatening
diseases.
Above: With a live-in aide and
regular visits from palliative care
nurse Laurie Alonso, NP, left,
102-year-old George Wittmer is
able to remain in his home.