Bluegrass Care Navigators has expanded palliative care services to Scott County, providing services to oncology patients at Georgetown Community Hospital through the Georgetown Cancer Care clinic.

Palliative care is specialized, holistic medical care for people living with serious illness, focused on providing relief from symptoms and stresses with the goal of improving quality of life for the patient and their families. This supportive care model can help manage complaints such as nausea, pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, weakness, fatigue, gastrointestinal discomforts and much more.

Oncology patients at Georgetown Cancer Care Clinic are referred to the Bluegrass Care Navigator’s palliative care team by their oncologist. The palliative care doctor and nurse, and oncologist work together to manage the patient’s needs. Palliative care is available to patients as they continue curative treatments for their cancer diagnosis.

“Palliative care provides an extra layer of support to the patient, their family, and their oncology care team” said Bluegrass Care Navigators physician Dr. Liz Markus. “We stay focused on keeping the patient’s symptoms in check, so the patient and their oncologist can focus on treating their cancer.”

“This new partnership allows us to have Bluegrass Care Navigator’s palliative care providers embedded into our cancer care clinic, which enhances the quality of care we can provide at Georgetown Community Hospital,” said Dr. Kent Taylor, MD.

Georgetown Cancer Care patients who are interested in receiving palliative care alongside their oncology treatment should discuss the opportunity with their physician.

For more information about Georgetown Community Hospital’s oncology services, visit https://www.georgetowncommunityhospital.com/cancer-care