Palliative Care by Frey at WMH
Certified Nurse Practitioner Nikki Frey is leading palliative care services at Wyandot Memorial.
Wyandot Memorial Hospital is offering palliative care to manage pain and symptoms for patients with life-altering illnesses.
Certified Nurse Practitioner Nikki Frey is coordinating palliative care services, and drawing extensively upon her training and experience in symptom management, administration of medication, wound care and assisting in procedures.
“Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of an illness and can be provided along with treatments that are aimed to cure,” Frey explained. “Although the overall approach is similar to hospice care, palliative care is appropriate much earlier in an illness and alongside curative measures.”
She said there are several indicators that palliative care might benefit an individual, including if a patient has had two hospitalizations or three emergency department visits in the past six months, and desires a decrease in re-hospitalizations. Being bed-bound or chair-bound, needing assistance with two or more activities of daily living and having a significant decline in functional status are other indicators.
“A patient’s own medical provider oversees palliative care,” Frey emphasized. “My role is to make recommendations about medications or treatments to help relieve pain and symptoms caused by the illness. I can also integrate the psychological and spiritual aspects of care and offer support and resources to patients and families.”
Palliative care can be provided in a variety of places, including a patient’s home, assisted living facility, long term care facility and hospital. Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance are accepted for payment.
“Our goal with palliative care is to support the best quality of life for patients and their families,” Frey added. “I believe palliative care fills a void for many who may need someone to lean on during their illness. I can be that listening ear and help make sense of the clinical options available.”
Wyandot Memorial’s Palliative Care office is located in the Tarhe Building at 245 Tarhe Trail in Upper Sandusky. For more information, phone 419-294-1525.