NVRH Palliative Care patient Hugh Cofrancesco with RN Laura Mason and NP Kelly Lemieux
Hugh Cofrancesco was never a big fan of hospitals. “I have a rocky history with healthcare providers,” he admits. But after being diagnosed with a serious illness, he started visiting the NVRH Palliative Care Clinic and something changed.
Palliative care is a medical specialty, often confused with hospice care, designed to offer comfort and improve quality of life for people living with a serious, life-limiting illness. While both palliative care and hospice care are patient-centered and offer a number of “wrap-around” services for patients and family members, hospice care is focused on terminally ill patients, while palliative care is available at any stage of a serious illness. Palliative care patients may continue to receive curative medical treatments—chemotherapy, for example—as part of their palliative care.
At first, Hugh wasn’t happy to be going to Palliative Care. But regular meetings with Nurse Practitioner Kelly Lemieux and RN Laura Mason changed the way he felt about his diagnosis.
“Kelly is the most honest and compassionate person to ever help me,” Hugh says. “She really listens. She got me to realize that I can still do things to make life happier. And Laura is an awesome person—so friendly and kind. I try to schedule my appointments when she’s there!”
The Palliative Care Clinic at NVRH provides:
- Coordination of care with your healthcare providers, including your primary care physician
- Support for family members and caregivers
- Help managing pain and symptoms
- The opportunity to discuss your personal goals and wishes during your treatment, and reassess those goals if your plans change
- Patient-centered decision making about treatment and care
- Connections to resources in the community that may be helpful to you and your family, including hospice care
Before going to Palliative Care, Hugh was afraid to leave his home. Now he has his own car and loves to help his wife with errands and groceries. Last year he even went to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with his family. And, after 50 years of smoking, Kelly finally helped him quit.
“I really thought my life was over,” Hugh says. “And now I know I can still have a great life for whatever time I have left.
If you or someone you love could use support and guidance handling a serious illness, call the NVRH Palliative Care Clinic today and learn how we can help. Our Palliative Care Clinic offers telehealth visits through MyPortal, so that patients can receive quality care through virtual visits. Find more information about telehealth and sign up through MyPortal,