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News Releases
Dumlao Educates Mercy Medical Staff on Palliative Care
June 22, 2009
 Recently Dr. Dumlao provided two educational palliative care presentations at Mercy Medical in Daphne, Ala. Dr. Dumlao is one of the only physicians in the region specifically trained and board-certified in palliative care and supportive care for cancer patients. Pictured at one of the presentations are Susan Cox, Mercy referral specialist and Dr. Dumlao, assistant professor of Interdisciplinary Clinical Oncology at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute in Mobile, Ala. |
Dumlao received his medical degree from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center College of Medicine in the Philippines in 1987. He completed his training in Internal Medicine at the Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Ill. After serving as a staff physician and hospitalist internist at various hospitals, Dumlao completed a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine and cancer pain management at the University of South Florida’s H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center.
Dumlao’s presentation, named “The Palliative Treatment of Last Resort” captivated enthusiastic attendees that included William Michael Asher, MD, Mercy Medical’s hospice medical director, hospice nurses, rehabilitation nurses, and other heath-care professionals of Mercy Medical.
“The goal of palliative medicine is to alleviate suffering, maintain functionality if possible, and improve or maintain the quality of life. Near the end of life, functionality can be sacrificed as long as suffering is alleviated,” explained Dumlao. “A patient once told me, ‘if I do not have pain I forget everything about my cancer’. That motivates me to keep helping patients deal with this pain during their illness or near the end of their lives,” said Dumlao.
“Dr. Dumlao’s approach to palliative care and his passion to educate the healthcare community is a great and well needed combination for our community. Although palliative medicine is becoming more widely understood, many healthcare professionals don’t support it. Dr. Dumlao shared real stories of patients and what happens when palliative care is not utilized. He shared statistics of cancer patients including that 70-90% of advanced cancer patients have pain, 64 -80% report inadequately relieved pain and 86% have poorly controlled pain. Why would we deprive patients of pain management interventions?” expressed Sandy Paden, RN CHPN, Mercy’s patient care manager for hospice. “We are deeply indebted to Dr. Dumlao for his community outreach presentation. The nurses and staff at Mercy will use the knowledge gained from his presentation to enhance their professional skills.”
While palliative care may be a standard internationally, in the United States it is not always common protocol. However, through the expertise and community education of physicians like Dr. Dumlao, a once unknown specialty will one day be available in most healthcare programs.
“Palliative care can extend a person’s quality of life by allowing them to be possibly pain and symptom free, and high functioning. As Dr. Dumlao said early on in his presentation, 'to be symptom-free and pain-free is priceless',” explained Paden.
As a hospice pioneer and palliative care provider, Mercy Medical is committed to practicing the latest techniques and pain management practices. For more information on Mercy Medical, call 251-621-4200 or visit www.mercymedical.com.
