Pain Management and Palliative Care

Pain Management

Patients requiring an initial assessment are screened for history of pain and current pain levels during the initial assessment interview. Pain is what the patient says it is. Patients with pain when screened will receive further appropriate interventions and reassessment. All assessments address cognitive or non-verbal impairments, cultural, age appropriate, and disabilities. Non-English speaking patients are provided translation services consistent with the Hospital's policy "Interpreter Services Policy". All assessments, interventions, evaluations, and documentation are based on respect for the patient's perception and expression of pain. Discharge planning includes evaluation and initiation of post hospitalization pain management needs. Guidelines attached for pain management are established in coordination with Medical Staff, Nursing, Pharmacy, and other clinical services. All clinical staff are educated about pain management concepts to maintain appropriate levels of competency. Patients are provided with assessment tools and information about available management options including non-pharmacologic interventions. Patients are educated about expected participation in pain control. Pain assessment is rated using the appropriate scale.

Palliative Care

Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System has an interdisciplinary team that is available to patients that have a non-curable disease or are at the end of life. The team will make an assessment for symptom management that will assist the patient in physical or psycosocial needs. The interdisciplinary team consists of Bob Cagle, Social Worker; Gail Pieper RN; Annette Schuessler RN; Terry Pettitt, Pharmacist; Diane Mesiroff, RN and Tracey L'hommedieu, RN. All members of the team have been trained at the Cleveland Clinic for palliative medicine. The palliative medicine team is available by group paging by calling the operator and asking for the palliative medicine team or by calling the pager directly and giving us your phone number. Any member of the team will then respond.