Pain & Palliative Care

What is the Pain & Palliative Care Philosophy?

• "Palliate" means to ease. The focus is to ease the suffering that results from illness and improve quality of life for those with chronic and life threatening medical conditions.
• Provide expert symptom management for those with physical, emotional and spiritual suffering.
• Encourage patient centered relationships throughout the disease process.
• Communication and support for the family. The team helps patients and their families make medical decisions and choose treatments that are in line with their goals.

Who provides Palliative Care?

Care continues to be provided by the patient's attending doctor with the addition of the palliative care team.

The care team consists of:

• Board certified Palliative Care Physicians
• Pharmacists
• Advanced practice nurses

How do I get Palliative Care?

Ask your doctor for a Palliative Care Consultation for your loved one or yourself.

If you have any questions regarding Palliative Care please contact 240-566-3031 or email ebush@fmh.org.

Who Could Benefit from Palliative Care?

Anyone with chronic or life threatening illness experiencing symptoms due to the illness itself or secondary symptoms caused as a result of treatments for the disease.

This includes the following illnesses:

• Chronic Pain
• Cancer
• Infectious Disease (including those with HIV)
• Kidney/Liver Disease
• Heart Disease
• Lung Disease
• Neurologic Disease
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Post surgical pain

What is the difference between Palliative Care and Hospice?

Palliative care is appropriate at any time during a patient's advanced or chronic illness. It can be provided at the same time as treatment that is meant to cure the patient.

Hospice care always provides palliative care. However, it is focused on caring for terminally ill patients who no longer seek a cure for their illness, and are expected to live for about six months or less.

Pain & Palliative Care Team

The Pain and Palliative Care Team at Frederick Memorial Hospital is led by Eric Bush, MD, Rph, MBA. Eric completed his training in Internal Medicine at the University of Buffalo. He subsequently was a fellow and later faculty at the National Institutes of Health with the Pain and Palliative care service. He also has experience at Georgetown University Hospital and Greater Baltimore Medical Center.