To “palliate” means to lift the burden of suffering related to a serious illness.

The Steward Center for Palliative Care's misssion is to effectively relieve suffering.

 

What is Palliative Care?  A medical speciality focused on meeting the unique needs of patients diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.

How Can We Help? 

 •   Our Steward Center for Palliative Care's physicians and nurse practitioners focus on providing expert pain and symptom management long before the end of life.  We vigorously treat pain and other symptoms such as nausea, poor appetite, depression or anxiety, and our goal is to keep you as comfortable and as active as possible through all stages of your illness.

 •   Our team, led by Director and Hospice Savannah Board Certified Nurse Practitioner in Palliative Care Laura Wiggins, Adult Nurse Practitioner Shali Purvis, and Medical Director Dr. Kelly Erola, works in collaboration with social workers, chaplains, and case managers to encourage quality of life conversations and to allow your physicians to fully explore and understand your values and goals for your care. 

 •   Steward Center Companions can provide up to four hours of volunteer assistance each week to give caregivers much needed respite or to give support and friendship to patients. 

 •   Palliative care is not limited to end of life care and is not hospice care.

 •   We can follow your care during hospital stays, and after discharge we can provide outpatient services for continued help with your pain management and other symptoms.  Our team will also assist in transitioning you to home health care or hospice care when needed.

How You Can Access Palliative Care Service.....

 •   Call The Steward Center for Palliative Care at 912.354.8014 for assistance or information.
      Fax: 912.355.1260 

Dr. Kelly Erola, Medical Director         Click here to see her biography.                     Laura Wiggins, Director                   Steward Center for Palliative Care                   Click here to see her biography.

Elainor Ray, LPN                                    Coordinator                                    Elainor is the Coordinator for the Steward Center for                                    Palliative Care.  She can help assess pain and other                                    symptoms, provide volunteer support, and make                                    recommendations for the help patients and families                                    need to cope with their illness. If you have family or                                    friends who are not ready to call Hospice Savannah,                                    please call Elainor at 912.354.8014.       Click here to read a Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog  - PALLIMED