Fall 2023 | Issue 10 | Page 3
Palliative Care Provider Highlight : Program Highlight : Palliative Care at Regional One Health – Memphis ( continued )
From left to right : Kaitlin Higginbotham , Palliative Program Manager ; Tonya Arnold , Palliative SW ; Nakesha McCollins , Palliative NP ; Dr . Jeffrey Nelson , Palliative Program Medical Director
aims to advance the fund of knowledge and set standards of care in this unique group of patients for whom evidencebased practices need further development .
Evidence demonstrates that for patients with serious illness that transition out of the hospital , their need for supportive , palliative care not only continues , but often intensifies . In hopes of rectifying this , the palliative team partnered with the Regional One Health oncology team to offer palliative care to patients living with advanced or terminal cancer in the outpatient oncology clinic beginning in March 2023 . Expansion into the outpatient setting has been one of the most important evolutions of the palliative program as this type of supportive network of care for patients with advanced cancer has been shown to optimize the patient ’ s quality of life , prolong their survival , and keep them out of the hospital by allowing more aligned , collaborative decision-making and long-term emotional , psychological , and physical support .
With success in both inpatient and outpatient settings , the palliative team ’ s next steps involve expanding to offer homebased palliative care services to patients by early 2024 . Offering palliative care in patient homes will alleviate the stress and burden related to hospitalization and aims to provide more focus on the patient and their illness in a familiar environment .
As the palliative program continues to grow both inside and outside the hospital , the palliative team hopes to support even more patients and their families within the community . Currently , there is no other health system in the Memphis area that offers these three tiers of palliative care , and the Regional One Health palliative team aim to continue creating a palliative program that can be a model regionally , nationally , and beyond .
Jeffrey Nelson , MD , Medical Director - Bio Jeff Nelson , MD is board-certified in Family Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine . He earned his medical degree at Chicago Medical School of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and completed his residency and fellowship at University of Tennessee Health Science Center . Dr . Nelson is dedicated to establishing comprehensive , interdisciplinary palliative care services across the care continuum and ensuring patients have the support and comfort they need as they live with serious illness or injury .
Dr . Jeffrey Nelson
Nakesha McCollins , MSN , FNP-C , Nurse Practitioner - Bio Nakesha McCollins , MSN , FNP-C is a certified family nurse practitioner in Regional One Health ’ s Palliative Care service . As a palliative care professional , she helps support quality of life and reduction of symptoms and stress for patients who are living with a serious illness . Nakesha earned her Master of Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner degree and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at University of Memphis . She is certified as a family nurse practitioner and as a registered nurse .
Nakesha McCollins , MSN , FNP-C