Senior Care Blog

SUPPORTIVE CARE : What To Expect

Melissa George explains how supportive (palliative) care works.

My name is Melissa George, MSN, APRN, AGNP-C, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to provide care to you (or your family member). I am a graduate of Texas Woman’s University with a Master of Science in Nursing degree and am licensed as an Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner. I am known to say that I grew up in a Nursing Home – let me explain. Growing up, my mother was an Activity Director at a nursing home and I was able to volunteer at the facility where she worked. I grew up painting fingernails, reading books to residents, writing letters, playing Bingo along with other games, and spending time with the elderly population. These early interactions have shaped my trajectory into health care and have guided me back to the very population that I hold near and dear to my heart.

As a nurse practitioner, my goal is to provide person-centered care. I value and respect that each patient has unique needs based on their individual perspective and collective life experiences. Utilizing these- beliefs, I strive to tailor care to each individual so that they can live their best remaining life. I believe that health care is not one-size-fits-all, and that healthcare can look different for each unique individual. I believe that physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being are all important to the overall health of an individual – I strive to be sensitive to needs in all of these areas. I believe in the most non-invasive methods to manage illness and work to ensure that medication prescribed meets each individual’s distinctive needs. I review care interventions regularly and pay close attention to avoid over-prescribing or polypharmacy.

Working with Arcy Supportive/Palliative Care has provided a lot of resources at hand and which helps to keep my practice based in evidence and keeps me abreast the most recent research based interventions. I have personally completed the Alzheimer’s Association essentiALZ certification. I am also a member of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care medicine. I work closely with Dr. Edward Kremer, my collaborative physician, and together we aim to provide the best possible care to the patients under our services.

My first initial patient visit will be approximately 45-60 minutes and will include a thorough health history, review of medications, address any current issues, and perform a physical exam. Interventions that can be arranged include ordering labwork/x-rays/ultrasounds, arranging for home health, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and or/wound care if any of these services are warranted. I will also write and refill prescriptions as necessary. If a referral to a specialist is needed, this will be provided as well. Each subsequent visit is tailored to the individual needs of the patient. I plan to visit with each supportive care patient monthly and as-needed in between.

Should you need to reach me, please feel free to reach out to our Arcy Health Care Office at 469-348-0670. I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,

Melissa George, APRN, AGNP-C

Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Jimmie Stapleton

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