News

Millard Fillmore Suburban To Add Palliative Care Services

Released: 3/1/2012

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital today launched its enhanced palliative care program, providing patients with serious illnesses relief of symptoms, pain and stress – whatever the diagnosis.

Supportive Medical Partners, a physician-based practice group affiliated with The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, will serve the medical needs of the frail elderly and those with advanced progressive diseases at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

The group will offer palliative (comfort-oriented) care consults and care coordination to reduce distressing symptoms and enhance quality of life. In February, physicians from the group began work at the Buffalo General Medical Center.

“We are very proud to partner with Supportive Medical Partners,” said Chris Lane, President of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.  “From a patient and family perspective, this is all about improving quality of care, comfort and the services we offer.  Together with our physicians and staff, we continue to redesign the way we operate so that patients receive reliable, safe and the very best of care.”

The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC) is the largest palliative care provider in Western New York and became an affiliate member of the Great Lakes Health System of Western New York last October.

Great Lakes Health System of Western New York is the governing body overseeing the clinical integration between Kaleida Health and the Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC). Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital is a Kaleida Health facility.

“Having Supportive Medical Partners and the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care as an affiliate demonstrates once again that we can take what we have, which is very good, and make it better for those we serve,” said James R. Kaskie, President and CEO of Kaleida Health and the Great Lakes Health System of Western New York.  “Both are outstanding organizations with a tremendous commitment to innovative care programs, and they help us provide a complete continuum of care to our patients and families.”

“Our partnership with Great Lakes Health System was born around a shared vision of delivering high quality health care in a seamless and efficient manner to help more people,” stated Christopher Kerr, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of Supportive Medical Partners. “As a result, people who need palliative care will be more comfortable because their symptoms will be more effectively managed. Patients will not have to leave their current health care provider to receive help in managing their symptoms while they pursue curative treatment.”

In addition to his role with Supportive Medical Partners, Dr. Kerr also serves as the Palliative Care medical director for Great Lakes Health and is the chief medical officer of The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC). At CHPC, he oversees the clinical care for more than 700 patients a day in homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities and the hospice residence in Erie County.

The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care recently received national recognition by being honored with the prestigious Circle of Life Award® by the American Hospital Association for its innovation and expertise in palliative care.

Millard Fillmore Suburban is a Premier healthcare alliance QUEST^® award winner, Consumer Choice Award winner named by the National Research Corporation and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines^® Gold Plus Quality Achievement for its care in both cardiac and stroke.