Palliative Care Newsletter | Winter 2022
New Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic Opens at Mount Sinai Morningside Due largely to transformational public health
founder of the Lilian and
advances such as clean drinking water
Benjamin Hertzberg
and vaccinations, people are living longer
Palliative Care Institute
than in previous generations. As people
at the Icahn School
age, many develop one or more chronic
of Medicine at Mount
conditions that, although manageable, will
Sinai. “We help people
impede the quality of life for themselves
understand what to
and their families and caregivers. Mount
expect and be prepared
Sinai offers outpatient palliative care by an
for the future as their
interdisciplinary team of specialists who
illness evolves.”
treat symptoms, pain, and related stress, including anxiety and depression, felt by patients facing a serious illness.
The palliative care
it as easy as possible for patients to get
team works closely with a patient’s other doctors, such as their
palliative care and to make it convenient.
In July, Mount Sinai opened a third
oncologist, neurologist, or cardiologist,
“What I really find inspiring is watching the
outpatient palliative care clinic, at Mount
to coordinate treatment. “The oncologist
relationships develop between the doctors
Sinai Morningside, to provide
and patients and their families,
medical, psychological, social, and
because these are long-term
spiritual support for patients of all
relationships,” says Dr. Meier. “It’s
ages and all stages of their illness,
not like hospital care where people
regardless of their prognosis.
are in and out … these patients come
Doctors, nurses, a social worker,
back over a very long period of time.
a nutritionist, and a chaplain are
You get to see how that human
available to see patients. The goal
connection actually affects healing.”
is to offer care and services that will improve the quality of life for seriously
treats the disease, and we treat the whole
ill patients.
person and the people around them,”
“Our job is to try to reduce the burdens of
Patients are referred to the palliative care clinic by one of their treating physicians. Palliative care services are covered by many
Dr. Meier explains.
insurance plans, including Medicare and
symptom distress, the burden of feeling
Until the new clinic opened in July, patients
Medicaid. The Mount Sinai Morningside
like your body has betrayed you, and we
seeking outpatient palliative care visited
palliative care clinic is located at 1111
focus on supporting family caregivers
The Mount Sinai Hospital or Mount Sinai
Amsterdam Avenue, at 114th Street, just west
because they have a very hard job to do,”
Union Square. However, with a sprawling
of Morningside Park. For further information
says Diane E. Meier, MD, Professor of
health system serving people in different
or to make an appointment, please call
Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine and the
parts of the city, the objective was to make
212-659-8552.
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