Warren Wheeler, M.D. Receives National Honor
We are very pleased to announce that Warren Wheeler, MD, Nathan Adelson Hospice’s Senior Director of Palliative Medicine was named one of the 30 most influential leaders in hospice and palliative medicine by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).
Several months ago, in celebration of 25 years serving the profession, AAHPM asked its 5,000 members to nominate who they think are the leaders – or Visionaries – in the field. They then asked members to vote for the top 10 among the 111 nominated.
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. This type of care is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness – whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and family. Palliative care is provided by a team of Physicians, Advanced Practice Nurses, Registered Nurses and Social Workers. These professionals also serve as a resource for patients primary health care professionals; ensuring an extra layer of support. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and is often provided in conjunction with curative treatment.
The 2013 Visionaries – 14 women and 16 men – are physicians, nurses and hospice pioneers such as British social worker Cicely Saunders, credited with starting the modern hospice movement, and Elisabeth Kübler Ross, author of numerous books including the groundbreaking “On Death and Dying.” Five elected officials were nominated and one of them, former President Ronald Reagan, was named a Visionary for signing into law the Medicare hospice benefit in 1982.
Nathan Adelson Hospice has expertise in providing palliative care since inception of the Elaine Wynn Palliative Care Program in 2006. This program is operated in partnership with several hospitals in the Las Vegas valley, which has resulted in improved quality of life for many people in our community. This year, January until the end of August, 893 hospitalized patients received over 3,000 visits from Nathan Adelson Hospice physicians and nurse practitioners through the Elaine Wynn Palliative Care Program.
