Tidings of Comfort

“There is a good connection between neonatology and palliative care. It is people working together to take care of the whole patient — body, mind and spirit. Unfortunately, we have some babies who don’t survive, but we can help families have a peaceful experience while their babies are dying. This is the model that we embrace in the NICU and this should be the model for all the care we give at LCM.”

Under the farsighted leadership of LCM Chief Executive Blair Contratto and TrinityCare Hospice President Claire Tehan, Komatsu applied for and was awarded a Harvard University Palliative Care Fellowship at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sr. Carol Pacini, LCM, left, joins the members of the Palliative Care Consultation Team at the Dedication and Blessing on November 23, 2004. From left, Chaplain Katherine Jaramillo; TrinityCare Hospice President Claire Tehan; Tricia Branum, LCSW; Carmen Lozano, RNP; Angele Ryan, MD; Michael Frederich, MD; and Suzi Gulcher, Co-chairwoman of the Palliative Care Task Force.

Komatsu moved with his wife and two young children to the East Coast, with the intent of returning to establish the LCM Center for Palliative Care. Not a bricks and mortar center, but a system within the hospital where a palliative care team works with patients and families to enhance comfort, dignity and quality of life for seriously ill patients.

Komatsu’s fellowship is partially funded by a grant from the James Lester Endowment through the LCM Community Health Foundation. Created in honor of Jim Lester upon his retirement as President and CEO of LCM, the endowment is intended for leadership development within the medical staff, management team and hospital administration. Komatsu received the first award from the fund.

LCM Inpatient Palliative Care Consultation Services

Little Company of Mary dedicated the services of its first inpatient Palliative Care Consultation Team in November 2004. The members of this support team include the palliative care physician, nurse, social worker and chaplain. The team works closely with the patient’s physician to deliver compassionate palliative care to patients and their families coping with the progression of advanced illness, leading to enhanced quality of life for all.

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