Right Choice - St. Nicholas Hospital

Palliative Care also:
• Facilitates communication between the patient,
family members, and staff about treatment.
• Provides spiritual and emotional support to patients
and families.
• Addresses concerns as the patient’s condition changes.
• Assists with hospital discharge and continuation of
Palliative Care Services in the home setting.
Who Could Benefit from Palliative Care?
• Those with serious, chronic or life limiting illness that
are having difficulty with symptom management.
• Those experiencing recurrent hospital admissions.
• Those with changing care goals.
Your physician or Hospital staff may suggest Palliative
Care for you. You may also inquire about it yourself and a
staff member will meet with you to discuss your questions
and determine if you or your loved one qualify for
Palliative Care.
Pediatric Services
Having a child in the hospital is never easy. However, our
Pediatric Services staff tries to make this as stress free for
both patient and family as possible. Parents are encouraged
to spend as much time in their child’s room as they wish
and to become part of their child’s patient care team.
Beds for parents are available for overnight stays.
Pharmaceutical Services (Inpatient)
Medications are dispensed to St. Nicholas Hospital patients
after a registered pharmacist reviews each medication order
for accuracy and safety, including correct dose for age and
status of illnesses,
potential drug
interactions, allergy
screening, therapeutic
duplication, and
appropriate directions
for administration.
Medications are stored
in and dispensed from
an automated Pyxis
system which ensures
accuracy and enhances
s T . n i c H o l a s H o s p i T a l s e r V i c e s
44
timeliness of medication distribution. Sterile injectable
medications and intravenous solutions (IVs) are prepared
by skilled technicians under the supervision of a pharmacist.
The pharmacist assists physicians by continuously screening
medication profiles and associated laboratory results,
providing recommendations as indicated. Upon physician
order, drug therapy responses are monitored for antibiotics
and anticoagulants. Pharmacists team with dietitians to
recommend formulas for optimal intravenous nutrition
when needed. Pharmacists respond to medication questions
utilizing up-to-date drug information resources. A
pharmacist is available for consultation 24 hours a day.
Rehabilitation Services
Often after illness or injury, an individual finds him/herself
in need of some form of rehabilitation services on either an
inpatient or outpatient basis. The goal of rehabilitation is
to improve the functional capabilities of the patient so that
he/she may participate in and enjoy life’s activities as fully
as possible.
Rehabilitation services can take many forms: physical
therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreational
therapy, rehabilitation nursing, and psychological services.
Rehabilitation may be done on an inpatient basis or as an
outpatient. Services are provided by a specially trained staff.
Services available include:
Physical Therapy
The goal of physical
therapists is to restore
normal movement and
function while attempting
to resolve problems such
as pain, weakness, loss
of motion, or lack of
coordination. Treatment
begins with an evaluation
to determine the structures
involved as well as the
severity and nature of the
problem. The plan of care
may include exercises to restore function, training in the
use of proper body mechanics, gait training, prosthetic
training, and muscle reeducation. Physical therapy services
are available at both the St. Nicholas Hospital and the
Plymouth Medical Plaza.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists work with individuals who have
physical, developmental, emotional, or social deficits which
affect their ability to participate in daily activities. After
evaluating a patient’s daily living skills, i.e., the ability to get
dressed, walk, or perform routine functions, the therapist
helps the patient “relearn” those skills.
Speech Therapy
Through careful evaluation, planning, and treatment
programs, speech-language pathologists work at improving
a patient’s communication skills. Services include direct
therapeutic treatment, staff consultation, and family
counseling. Disorders treated by speech-language
pathologists may include aphasia, swallowing disorders,
speech and language impairment, oral-motor dysfunction,
Alzheimer’s, and hearing impairment.
Recreational Therapy
Recreational therapists facilitate the development,
maintenance, and expression of an appropriate leisure
lifestyle for individuals with physical, mental, emotional,
or social limitations. While developing leisure skills, the
patient is assisted in eliminating these barriers.
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Inpatient Unit
The Comprehensive Rehabilitation Inpatient Unit of
St. Nicholas Hospital offers an interdisciplinary approach
to restoring living skills, delivering care in a complete range
of services which treat the whole person—body, mind, and
spirit. The care team is composed of a physician medical
director; nurse practitioner; physical, occupational,
recreational, and speech therapists; primary care physician;
psychologist; social worker; pastoral care representative;
dietitian; and discharge planning nurse. Other medical
professionals are brought in as needed with everyone—
including the patient and family—working together toward
a common goal—the patient’s independence in mobility,
self-care, safety, cognition, and communication and return
to safe community living and function. The program is
accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities.
Medical Director: Donald R. Gore, MD
s T . n i c H o l a s H o s p i T a l s e r V i c e s
45
Respiratory Care Services
The St. Nicholas Hospital Respiratory Care staff works
closely with physicians to provide a comprehensive
approach to treating patients with respiratory disorders.
Services provided include assessment, diagnostic testing,
therapeutics, monitoring, education, and rehabilitation.
Patients with respiratory-related sleep disorders receive
additional evaluation through the St. Nicholas Hospital
Sleep Disorders Center (see page 45). A Pulmonary
Rehabilitation program aids patients in improving quality
of life and functional abilites.
Medical Director: Philip M. DeTrana, MD, FCCP
Sleep Disorders Center
Sleep disorders can leave you with a feeling of constant
sleepiness that is both frustrating and hazardous. The Sleep
Disorders Center can help your physician identify your
condition and begin a proper course of treatment. Under
the medical direction of a physician board-certified in
sleep medicine, the Sleep Disorders Center offers complete,
state-of-the-art diagnostic testing for sleep apnea, narcolepsy,
night terrors, insomnia, sleep-related movement disorders,
circadian rhythm disturbances, and many other sleep
disorders. Most sleep studies are conducted overnight at
the Hospital.
Medical Director: Philip M. DeTrana, MD, FCCP
Spiritual and Pastoral Support Services
Spiritual and emotional support are important aspects of
holistic health and healing. Chaplains, nuns, priests and
Holy Communion ministers visit patients and their loved
ones on a regular basis. Upon the request of patients or
their families, their churches or synagogues can be notified
of their current hospitalization.
Roman Catholic Mass is celebrated weekly in the Hospital
Chapel and telecast to patient rooms over closed-circuit TV.
Protestant services are also telecast weekly. Sacraments are
available daily or upon request. A chaplain can also forward
any special requests on to a patient’s pastor or rabbi.