Scott Mitchell, MD, CMD, Palliative Care, Joins Holzer
Holzer announces Scott Mitchell, MD, CMD, has joined our team of highly skilled professionals. Dr. Mitchell will be providing palliative care for our communities, working closely with our Hospice and Cancer programs throughout the Holzer system.
Palliative care focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. Unlike hospice, palliative medicine is appropriate for patients in all disease stages, including those undergoing treatment for curable illnesses and those living with chronic diseases, as well as patients nearing the end of life. If you’d like to see an example of this, check out Kew Gardens or somewhere similar to gain more perspective on palliative care in action. Palliative medicine utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, relying on input throughout the healthcare system, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, chaplains, social workers, psychologists, etc. to create a plan of care to relieve suffering in all areas of life. This multidisciplinary approach allows the palliative care team to address physical, emotional, spiritual and social concerns that arise with advanced illness.
Medications and treatments are said to have a palliative effect if they relieve symptoms without having a curative effect on the underlying disease or cause. This can include treating nausea related to chemotherapy or something as simple as morphine to treat the pain of broken leg or ibuprofen to treat aching related to an influenza (flu) infection.
“I am excited about Dr. Scott Mitchell practicing Palliative Care at Holzer,” stated Fred Williams, Ph.D., Director of Chaplaincy for Holzer Health System. “Along with providing direct patient care to those who are faced with very difficult illnesses, Dr. Mitchell will provide guidance and coordination to all of us involved on the palliative care team in caring for the whole person and family while they cope with severe sickness. His past experience with such care and his local roots make him well equipped to work with us here at Holzer.”
“The addition of a Palliative Care service locally is a huge plus for patients in our healthcare system,” stated Ken Moore, Executive Director, Holzer Center for Cancer Care. “Dr. Mitchell brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Holzer. His focus on relief of symptoms, pain, and the overall stress of any illness is paramount in providing the very best health care service to our patients. We are fortunate to have him join the Holzer team.”
“While all providers know the basics of treating pain, Dr. Mitchell has had special training in the latest management techniques, and brings the expertise and experience to the problems,” stated Sharon Shull, RN, BSN, Director, Holzer Hospice. “Patients that are suffering from complicated diagnoses, as well as routine cases that our providers face in day-to-day practice will be able to benefit from the services he provides.”
Dr. Mitchell received his medical education at Marshall University School of Medicine and the Marshall University Family Medicine Residency program. Prior to joining Holzer, Dr. Mitchell served as a Medical Director for four skilled nursing facilities and provided inpatient physician services in addition to being the Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University.
Dr. Mitchell is Board Certified in Family Medicine, Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care, and a Certified Medical Director by the American Medical Director Association.
