About Us

Overview | History | Mission | Leadership | Why Hospice? | Your Hospice Team | Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. Palliative medicine is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and their family.  Palliative medicine strives to treat the whole person aiming to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, while improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Unlike hospice care, palliative medicine is appropriate for patients undergoing treatment for curable illnesses and those living with chronic diseases.  

Palliative Medicine Consultants offers a specialized team to work with a patient’s current physician(s).  This team consists of a palliative care physician and nurse practitioner, registered nurse, medical social worker and chaplain.  The palliative care team of specialists spends as much time as necessary with you and your family. The team supports you and your family every step of the way, not only by helping to manage your symptoms, but also assisting you to understand your treatment options and goals.

The list of questions below provides answers to common questions about  palliative care.  For more information please contact us: 540-313-9220. 

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Who can benefit from Palliative Medicine?

Patients with life-limiting illnesses, including, but not limited to:

• Metastatic or recurrent cancer
• Dementia
• Liver disease
• COPD
• HIV/AIDS
• Cardiac disease
• Stroke
• Renal disease
• Persistent coma

Patients with uncontrolled physical symptoms, including, but not limited to:

• Pain
• Delirium
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Insomnia
• Nausea (and/or vomiting)
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Cough

Patients and/or families wishing to discuss:

• Advance care planning
• Goals of therapy
• Comfort-directed therapy
• Withdrawal of mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition, and/or other forms of artificial life support

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Palliative Care
Who can receive this care?	Anyone with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy, can receive palliative care
Can I continue to receive treatments to cure my illness?	You may receive palliative care and curative care at the same time
How can I access palliative care?	A referral from your Primary Care Physician or Specialist Physician
Does Medicare & Medicaid pay?	Yes, this is a covered specialist visit care covered by Medicare part B and Medicaid
Does private insurance pay?	Yes, this is also covered as a specialist visit/care
Is this a package deal?	No, there is no 'palliative care' package, the services are flexible and based on the patient's needs
How long can I receive care?	This will depend upon your care needs, and the coverage you have through Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance and will be determined by you and the palliative care team
Where are services provided?	Inpatient at Winchester Medical Center  Outpatient Clinic
Who provides these services?	It varies.  However usually there is a team including doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains
Do they offer expert end-of-life care?	Yes, our team has Specialized training and Credentials to provide this care

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Meet The Team

Dr. Jack Wright, MD	1982 – Graduate of University of Virginia Medical School 1982 – 1985 - Internship/Residency at Womack Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, NC in Family Medicine 1985 - Board certified and credentialed in Family Medicine 2008 - Board Certified and credentialed in Hospice and Palliative Medicine 2009 to Present – Blue Ridge Hospice Practiced in the Army for six years post residency, then civilian for eighteen years (Harrisonburg, VA), Volunteer medical director with Rockingham Memorial Hospital Hospice for fourteen years Full staff privileges at Winchester Medical Center
Dodie Owens, FNP-C	bio coming soon
Angela Titus, FNP	1997-  Graduate of Shepherd University (Associate Degree in Nursing 1997- 2011-  Employed full time as a Registered Nurse in a variety of clinical settings/specialties (Oncology, Hospice, Long     term care, medical/surgical, Home Health, and administrative)  2010-  Graduate of Shenandoah University (Bachelor Degree in Nursing)  2011-  Graduate of Shenandoah University (Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner)  2004- Present-  Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse 2012-  Joined Blue Ridge Hospice
Rachel Schwartz, LCSW	1991 – Graduate of Oberlin College – Oberlin, Ohio 1993 – Graduate of University of Maryland at Baltimore – MSW 1993-2006 – Employed as a Social Worker at various community based organizations with a focus on mental health 1997 – Received LCSW Licensing – State of Virginia 2006 to Present – Blue Ridge Hospice

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End-Of-Life Planning Tools

Have an advance directive (PDF/23.6k) in place that authorizes a person of your choosing to make decisions if you become unable to do so for yourself.

Draw up a living will of instructions (PDF/23.6k) to make known what you want done if, for example, you are seriously ill and the only way you can be kept alive is by artificial means.

Encourage your family and loved ones to complete their own advance directive. (PDF/24k)

Get the information you need about services provided by Blue Ridge Hospice.

Discuss your thoughts, concerns and choices with your family and friends.

Talk to your health care agent, family and doctor about your choices.

Engage others in discussions about end-of-life care issues and encourage them to complete their own advance directives.

Seek out opportunities to help others who are dealing with end-of-life care issues such as volunteering with a local hospice or end-of-life care coalition.

For more information about Palliative Medicine, please contact Mandy J. Powers, Physician Practice Manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (540) 536-5013.

For more information, please visit the Center to Advance Palliative Care and the National Consensus Project.

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