Palliative care specialist to speak Sisters Library

Certified hospice and palliative care nurse-practitioner Stephanie Barss will be the fourth and final presenter in the Diane Jacobsen Speaker Series at the Sisters Library on Sunday, May 1, at 1:30 p.m.

Barss welcomes the community to join her for "The End Game" presentation and open forum to address questions they might have regarding palliative care, hospice, advance-care planning, and resources during any stage of an advanced illness.

The American Board of Medical Specialties officially recognized palliative medicine as a subspecialty in 2006. Palliative care is a system of care that aims to improve quality of life through the management of pain and other symptoms.

Palliative care includes hospice care, but unlike hospice care, which is specifically for people who are at the end-stages of life, palliative care is appropriate at any stage of progressive illness and is often provided with curative treatments.

Barss is a family nurse- practitioner and has been working at Partners in Care (PIC) with hospice and home health patients since 2003. She works in the community, meeting with patients and families in the comfort and convenience of their home, wherever that may be - assisted-living facilities, foster homes, private residences, or skilled nursing facilities - traveling from Christmas Valley to Black Butte Ranch to Madras.

Barss collaborates closely with Dr. Jennifer Blechman and the PIC palliative-care team to provide an extra layer of support to those facing the challenges that come toward the end of life.

"While our medical system is generally very good at testing, diagnosing, and planning for the care of seriously ill people," Barss said, "often the patient needs a space where they can sort out their options for continued treatment, or stop to consider what is important and what makes life worthwhile."

Palliative care provides the opportunity for that space, at a time when a patient's perspective may be changing. When they are faced with multiple options and opinions, a palliative-care consult can help clarify goals of the patient and family as well as expertly address symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, pain, or anxiety.

"We help families talk with each other so that ultimately the patient's goals are understood and honored," Barss explained.

Whatever the patient's goals, whether to seek curative treatment to the very end, or be well enough to enjoy their family, have their pain better managed, or not spend their last days in a hospital, the palliative care team will advocate for that choice.

"Palliative care does not mean 'giving up' but rather letting go of some things that are no longer working well, in favor of a focused approach to managing symptoms in a way that improves quality of life and provides comfort," Barss remarked.

A native of Port Huron, Michigan, Barss received her Bachelor of Science from Lewis and Clark College, her Master of Science from Western Washington University, her nursing degree (RN) from Central Oregon Community College, and her FNP (nurse practitioner) from Gonzaga University.

She and her husband, Mark Bernahl, are the parents of two boys, 9-year-old Quincy, and Nash, who is 8 years old. They enjoy spending family time together, traveling and adventuring outside - running, biking, hiking, skiing, and climbing.

The free program runs from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Community Room at the Sisters Library. It is sponsored by Friends of the Sisters Library. Seating is limited.