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Advanced Illness Management Through
Palliative Care

Through a compassionate, holistic approach, the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St. Louis will help you or your loved one manage their pain and chronic illness, promoting a life of comfort and dignity at every stage. 

Enhancing a Patient's Quality of Life

Our Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Home-Based Palliative Care program focuses on patients who have difficulty leaving their homes due to chronic ongoing conditions.begin editing.

Our AIM team works together with a patient’s Primary Care Provider (PCP) as an added layer of support for people diagnosed with serious illness(es) and their caregiver(s).

Our Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Home-Based Palliative Care program focuses on patients who have difficulty leaving their homes due to serious chronic conditions.

 

Our care is rooted in a holistic approach to a patient's physical, emotional and spiritual needs with the goal to alleviate pain and suffering while promoting comfort and dignity. 

What You Need to Know About Our Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Program

We take a holistic approach to care.

This means we prioritize the patient's full self—from physical abilities and psychological implications to social symptoms and everything in between. 

We create a customized care plan. 

Pain management and symptom management are not one-size-fits-all.
We work with the patient and their family to determine what's best for them. 

It's a team effort.

Along with creating a customized care plan, that also means we also build a team specific to the patient's needs, and we coordinate and work together seamlessly so you don't have to worry about it. Learn more about some of our team members.

Caregivers need support too.

It's as much about the caregiver as it is about the patient, and we're here to help them too.
Learn more about how we support our caregivers

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative Care is defined as, “Specialized medical care for people living with serious illness that focuses on providing: relief from the symptoms and stresses of serious illness, whatever the diagnosis.” Center for the Advancement of Palliative Care

Are Palliative Care and Hospice the Same? No.

While part of palliative care is to help patients age with dignity through the end of life, there are some significant differences between the two. 

Common Illnesses In Palliative Care

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Kidney + Liver Disease

Cancer

Recurring Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Neurological Conditions: Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A Team Crafted Around Patient Needs

Our AIM team works together with a patient’s primary care provider (PCP) as an added layer of support for people diagnosed with serious illness(es) and their caregiver(s). Our AIM care team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, spiritual counselors and volunteers.

Meet Our AIM Team

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Dr. Mary Fox

Clinical Physician

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Allison Richards

Palliative Care Assistant

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Dr. Bob Hill

Clinical Physician

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E. Porter

AIM Office Medical Assistant

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Amy Schmerold

Nurse Practitioner

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Sara Swinson

Chaplain, Spiritual Advisor

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Amy Michaelson

Palliative Care Administrator

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Tonya Stacy

Chief Operating Officer

Contact Our Team Today!

New Patient Scheduling Ext 1252

Team

We're Here for the Whole Family

We support the patient, their loved ones and their caregivers.

Caregiving for a family member can be rewarding, but it certainly doesn't come without its own set of challenges. We want to provide you with the resources and support you need to succeed in this role and effectively help your loved one. 

Download Our
AIM Brochure

 

Is it the Right Time
for Advanced Illness Management?

AIM Patient Story:
Beth Buchek

 

Meet the Atkins: How VNA’s AIM Program Made a Difference

Resources
Contact

Contact Our AIM Team 
314.918.7171 ext. 1252 – amichaelson@vnastl.org

Or, provide the following contact information and our team will reach out soon to discuss your care needs. 
*By contacting VNA, you will not be added to our marketing lists.

Thank you to the Charless Foundation, a component of the St. Louis Community Foundation, for their generous support of the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St Louis Advanced Illness Management Palliative Care Program. 

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