North Kansas City Hospital

Whether you’re ready for that first child, need a new knee, suffering from chronic pain or experiencing a life-threatening health problem, North Kansas City Hospital can help. An overview of each of our services is provided in this section of our website.

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Manager or Supervisor/extension:

Connie Green, Manager, (816) 691-1550
Dr. Jim Stoddard, Physician, (816) 421-4240
Dr. Clay Anderson, Physician, (816) 691-5119
April Kimball, Nurse, (816) 691-1581
Mike Neely, Nurse, (816) 691-1572
Cindy Wiklund, Social Worker, (816) 691-1579
Gerald Brown, Chaplain, (816) 691-4054

Location:

Office is on the 6th floor of the hospital, south side
Services are provided throughout the hospital

Department Phone Number: (816) 691-1555

Services Provided:

Definition

Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is the medical specialty focused on improving overall quality of life for patients and families facing serious illness. Emphasis is placed on intensive communication, pain and symptom management, and coordination of care.

Palliative care is provided by a team of professionals working together with the primary doctor. It is appropriate at any point in a serious illness and can be provided at the same time as treatment that is meant to cure.

Ensures Quality of Life

Palliative care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Patients have a range of diseases and respond differently to treatment options. A key benefit of palliative care is that it looks at the patient as a whole in order to meet the individual needs of each person and family.

Palliative care relieves symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. It helps patients gain the strength to carry on with daily life. It improves their ability to tolerate medical treatments. And it helps them better understand their choices for care.

Palliative care benefits both patients and their families. Along with symptom management, communication and support for the family are key benefits. The team helps patients and families make medical decisions and choose treatments that are in line with their goals.

Different from Hospice

Palliative care is not limited to hospice care. Palliative care may be provided at any time during a person’s illness, even from the time of diagnosis. And, it can take place at the same time as curative treatment.

Hospice always provides palliative care. However, hospice is focused on terminally ill patients—people who no longer seek treatments to cure them.

Provided by a Team

Usually a team of experts, including palliative care doctors, nurses, social workers, and chaplains, provides this type of care. Typically, you get non-hospice palliative care in the hospital through a palliative care program. Working in partnership with your primary doctor, the palliative care team provides:

Customized treatment to meet the individual values, goals and needs of each patient

Expert management of pain and other symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping

Guidance with difficult and complex treatment choices

Emotional and spiritual support for patients and families

Source: www.GetPalliativeCare.org

Hours:

All of the Palliative Care Team members are available at the hospital Monday to Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. There is a chaplain on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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