New clinic to help patients with advanced illnesses

LANCASTER — While dealing with the stress of an advanced illness, driving to and from the hospital on a regular basis can make matters even more difficult.

FAIRHOPE Hospice and Palliative Care's new Advanced Illness Management (AIM) clinic will provide a convenient location for both patients and nurses and relieve the pressure of hospital visits or home care.

The AIM Clinic will focus on helping patients manage the symptoms and stress of their disease while reducing frequent hospitalizations.

Twenty years ago, FAIRHOPE started in just a one-room office.

"Look at us now!" said FAIRHOPE president and CEO, Kristin Glasure, during her recent ribbon-cutting speech. "Today starts a new chapter."

The new clinic is off Main Street, sharing a building with Dr. Sean Jerig's Obstetrics and Gynecology practice. Their side includes five onsite nurse practitioners, four exam rooms, a social worker, and on Tuesdays, there will be a doctor available.

Palliative care differs from hospice care, as patients may not necessarily need round-the-clock or end-of-life care, but are instead seeking stress, pain and anxiety relief as their illness may be in the process of treatment. The clinic with improve the quality of life for those with advanced or serious illnesses.

This convenient setting will relieve the pressure of having to go to the hospital, as patients are able to see their nurse practitioner for routine visits and urgent care needs (non-emergency) as necessary. As needed, physician support is also available.

"Our palliative program has been around for 20+ years and every year we grew, and grew, and grew," said Glasure. "We realized that we had close to 300 patients and that there are not a lot of palliative programs in this area and the areas we serve."

Glasure also explained how the "nurse practitioners were driving so many hours a day that they couldn't get to all the patients seen," which led to the realization that they needed a place that was not only convenient for the patients but also the nurses.

FAIRHOPE was able to purchase the building and refurnish it through support from the city and the county, as well as dedicated donors.

"Our goal is to make a big change in the community and show how palliative care can help them," said Glasure, "Our goal is to serve the community and their needs more efficiently."

FAIRHOPE also offers at-home hospice care as well as well as their home-like hospice care facility, the Pickering House.

The address of their new clinic is Dr. Scott DeLong’s former building, at 1319 E. Main St., Lancaster.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: FAIRHOPE opens new clinic for palliative care