Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/837588
❯❯❯❯❯❯❯❯❯ ❯❯❯❯❯❯❯❯❯ M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C L E V E L A N D /A K R O N / C A N T O N ■ M AY/J U N E 2 017 1 1 AULTMAN MEDICAL GROUP PROUDLY WELCOMES DAVID LITVAK, M.D., F.A.C.S. Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Residency: University of California Fellowship: John Wayne Cancer Institute A fellowship-trained surgical oncologist, Dr. Litvak is joining Aultman from Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Phoenix, where he served as the national chair for the department of surgery and performed complex surgical oncology cases. Dr. Litvak performs laparoscopic and robotic surgery. His specific areas of interest include surgery of the pancreas and liver, sarcomas, complex melanoma, and colon and rectal cancers. Dr. Litvak will also serve as the medical director of the Aultman Cancer Center. Aultman Medical Group General Surgery 2600 Tuscarawas St. W. – Suite 600 Canton, Ohio 44708 aultmanmedicalgroup.com A RECENT STUDY released by the Alzheimer's Association shows one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia. By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with a dementing disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million — a 40 percent increase from those currently a"ected. Dementia is a progressive, irreversible clinical syndrome associated with complex needs and high physical and psychologi- cal burdens. Patients with dementia may express their pain in ways that are quite di"erent from those of elderly people without dementia, leading to under-treated pain. Yet, they are less likely to be referred to palliative care teams, are prescribed fewer palliative medications, and are unlikely to have any assessment of spiritual needs before death. Support for caregivers is also crucial. The physical and emo- tional toll of dementia caregiving is estimated to have resulted in $9.1 billion in annual health care costs in the United States. The transdisciplinary hospice team is ideally suited to care for cases of advanced dementia by providing the patient and family with the resources they need. These resources range from advanced symptom control — both pharmacological and non- pharmacological — to assistance with advance care planning and navigation of community resources. Also, by providing spiritual support and respite care, hospice can lessen the enormous challenges for both the patient and the caregiver. Prognostication can also be a challenge due to the uncertain trajectory of many dementias, so continued collaboration is crucial. Working collaboratively with hospice teams, physicians can achieve the goal of providing the compassionate care and support needed through the end of life. Dr. Charles Wellman is Chief Medical O•cer of Hospice of the Western Reserve, headquartered in Cleveland and serving the Northern Ohio region. ■ SP ECI A L CL INIC A L SECT ION: NEUROLOGY 1 1 for Dementia Patients BY CHARLES V. WELLMAN, MD The Benefits of Palliative Care