Page 28 - November 2017

HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE IN SOUTH FLORIDA

PROFILE: Mariana Khawand-Azoulai, MD, Palliative Care

Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health

BY KIKI BOCHI Assisting patients in dealing with their challenges is

incredibly gratifying, she said. “It’s like holding the hand of

When Mariana Khawand-Azoulai, M.D., was in medical the patient and the family through a difficult time,” Dr.

school at the University of Florida, she served a rotation at Khawand-Azoulai said. “Our job is to ease the suffering that

the Veteran’s Administration Hospital. There, she saw a pal- comes with serious illness, not just with a focus on the phys-

liative team at work, and something clicked for her. She ical, but also emphasizing practical, emotional and spiritual

decided to make palliative care her life’s work. “I thought concerns.”

the way they cared for patients was so compassionate, per- The significance of palliative care: “Cancer patients need

sonal and practical,” she said. more than just oncology care,” Dr. Khawand-Azoulai said.

Together with Suleyki Medina, M.D., Dr. Khawand- We empower patients to participate in their treatment by

Azoulai is working to build an outpatient palliative team at helping them to understand their options so they can make

Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health. The group will decisions in line with their goals and values.”

soon include of two nurse practitioners and a social worker, On the emotional challenges of the job: “There are hard

providing services in a team-based approach alongside spe- days, and days we do sometimes cry,” Dr. Khawand-Azoulai

cialists in nutrition, physical therapy, social work, psychol- said. “What keeps me going is that I feel I truly help patients

ogy and more. and their families. I get to help them feel as good as they

“There are very few outpatient palliative care programs in can.”

the country — most are hospital based,” Dr. Khawand- Why this field is meaningful to her: “All through med

Azoulai noted. The services will function under the direc- Dr. Suleyki Medina school I wanted to do ‘whole person’ care. I’ve always been
tion of Leonard Kalman, M.D., Deputy Director and Chief interested in the person, their life, what kind of person they

Medical Officer of Miami Cancer Institute. were before this disease. I wanted to focus on the person,

The team approach is critical to making the greatest impact in the lives of not just the disease,” Dr. Khawand-Azoulai said.

patients and their families, Dr. Khawand-Azoulai said. “It’s very multi-dimen- Learning the wishes of the patient can require some deep and intimate discus-

sional so we can give the patients ‘whole person’ care,” she explained. “Miami sions, Dr. Khawand-Azoulai said. “We’re the ‘difficult conversation’ people. I try

Cancer Institute has been very forward-thinking is setting this up this way. They to help patients explore their options and determine what’s important to them,

are emphasizing that extra layer of support.” so we can proceed with treatment that is most in line with their values.”

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For the non-human family members, the Pet Peace of Mind pro-
gram provides helping hands from our volunteers to care for the fam-
ily pets allowing the patient and their family to simply enjoy their pet.

Music Therapy improves quality of life, communication, coping
and mood, decreases stress, pain, anxiety, nausea, isolation and emo-
tional distress.

Wishes Granted has the mission of providing our patients with the
opportunity to live out their last wishes. Whether it’s a special dinner,
a birthday or anniversary celebration, family outings to area attrac-
tions, a trip to the beach, or a day of pampering.

Catholic Hospice Volunteers has Patient Care Volunteers visit our
patients and families at their home, nursing home, assisted living
facility or hospital.

L ’Chaim Jewish Hospice provides compassionate end-of-life care to
patients of the Jewish faith who are facing a life-limiting illness.

The “We Honor Veterans” Program, a program of NHPCO and VA,
is designed to empower hospice professionals to meet the unique
needs of dying veterans.

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28 November 2016 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News