Physician and Patient Testimonials
Physician testimonial
Joanne Ondrush, MD
Director of Medical Critical Care Services
Inova Fairfax Hospital
"I find the palliative care service a tremendous asset to my patients. The palliative care team is immediately available, seeing patients sometimes within the hour of my call. The physicians are compassionate and patient, having those difficult, time-consuming conversations which occur often in the ICU setting. They are competent not only in end-of-life discussions, but also in difficult symptom management and delineating goals of care with patients and their families.”
Patient testimonials
Palliative care provides advocacy for individualized care
“Palliative care teams helped the rest of my doctors and caregivers take my individualized needs into account. My palliative care physicians offered a broader perspective and provided another voice." (patient)
Palliative care helps uncover inner strength
“I thought to myself, 'I want to stop treatments. I don't want to do this anymore.' But I remember Dr. Heintz coming into the room and telling me 'You can do it.' She told me I was a strong woman and was convinced I could handle cancer treatment. That was three years. I lived to see my granddaughter be born.” (patient)
Effective communication and continuity of care
“The palliative care doctor was so caring and personable and provided great continuity of care. She made a difference. The palliative care team knows the history of the medications, treatments and symptoms. They even know what happened last week." (patient)
Help with challenging pain
“I wish we had gotten you involved earlier. You have made such a difference. She is so much more comfortable. Things are much better now that you are involved.” (Parents of an eight year old girl suffering from cancer.)