VA Loma Linda Healthcare System

Palliative Care

Hospice and palliative care focus on symptom management and comfort services for Veterans and families as they cope with advanced illness.

Palliative Care:

It is a broad term that means symptom control  for serious illness but does not require the person to be terminally ill. It is appropriate at any age and can be provided along with curative treatment.

• Relief from pain and other symptoms of serious illness, no matter the diagnosis or stage of disease.
• Honor and respect Veteran’s end of life choices.
• Palliative care works along with your medical team.
• Helps to make a smooth transition from hospital to home care.
• Allow time for an open discussion about treatment choices for your illness.
• Palliative care should start while receiving curative treatment.
• Palliative care is used to treat all symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite

Hospice Care:

The presence of a terminal illness with limited life expectancy (usually 6 months or less) and when curative treatment is no longer the focus.

• Is offered at the end stage of a disease when life sustaining treatments are no longer beneficial.
• Treat symptoms and reduce suffering without prolonging life.
• Provide a private atmosphere of comfort, peace and hope (availability)
• We believe in acknowledging and embracing religious, ethnic and culture diversity.
• We believe in the sanctity of life and sacredness of death.
• Improves quality of life through symptom management rather than prolong life.
• Honor and respect Veteran’s end of life choices.

VA Loma Linda Provides:

VA Loma Linda Healthcare System provides hospice and palliative services in our outpatient palliative care clinic and inpatient hospice Community Living Center (CLC).

Some of the patients treated by the palliative care team include, but is not limited to cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and more.

• Care provided by a specialty team of doctors, nurses and other specialist who work together with you, your family, and other doctors.
• Care based on the needs of the patient.
• Relief of suffering and provide the best possible quality of life for patients and families.
• A palliative care team that communicates with all your doctors so that everyone is on the same page.
• Holistic treatment by addressing one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
• The same support as the mission and values of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Assistance to Veterans and families with end of life planning.
• Assistance with connecting Veterans with services in the community.
• Expert treatment of pain and other symptoms.
• Advocacy for Veterans choice.
• Provide psychosocial and spiritual support for Veterans and family.
• Provide education about Palliative Care to Veterans, families, and health care providers.
• Provide grief counseling.
• Assist with completion of Advance Directives. Advance Directives - VA Loma Linda Healthcare System 

Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic:

Interdisciplinary team consist of MD, LCSW, Psychology and RN. Our Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic is located in the Oncology building and Veterans are seen on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons.
 

Hospice Care:

Our hospice unit is located in the Community Living Center (CLC). There are 16 single rooms on the hospice unit.

Bereaved Family Survey:

It is comprised of 19 items in which 16 items focus on specific aspects of care that the Veteran received at a VA inpatient facility during the last month of life.  These items evaluate performance on areas of care including communication, emotional and spiritual support, pain management, and personal care needs.

Two open-ended questions solicit comments about both positive and negative aspects of care. One item that asks to provide global rating of care during the last month of life.  Which reflects the percentage of respondents that rate care as “Excellent.”

NQF: Person- and Family-Centered Care Measures - Measures (qualityforum.org)

Twice-yearly Memorial Services

Remembrance of Veterans that have expired within the LLVA in the last 6 months. Family is invited to participate in the remembrance ceremony.

Palliative Care Consultant Team

For more information about the Loma Linda inpatient and outpatient Palliative Care program.

• Palliative/Hospice Unit (909) 825-7084 ext. 2609/4616
• Ethel Davenport RN   (909) 825-7084  ext. 4472
• Beatriz McMullen MD    (909) 825-7084 ext. 2713
• Jessica Mosqueda (Nicki)  LCSW Social Worker  (909) 961-4482
• Shirley Kilian PhD Psychologist   (909) 825-7084 ext. 2201