PINEHURST- FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care recently welcomed board certified adult nurse practitioner Sondra Williamson to the team. Having worked with FirstHealth Hospice earlier in her career, Williamson is excited to return and hopes to contribute to the further development of the palliative care program.
“I look forward to the opportunity to care for patients and their families as they face life-changing illness in order to promote quality of life both physically and emotionally,” says Williamson. “I bring many years of nursing and primary care experience to provide highly competent and gracious care.”
Williamson earned her master of science degree in nursing, adult nurse practitioner with specialty in oncology from Duke University. She has worked as a primary care provider in internal medicine for the last eleven years. She also has nursing experience in neurosurgical intensive care, outpatient surgery, chemotherapy and hospice and palliative care.
“I hope my passion for care brings an energy and positive perspective to my patients and their families,” adds Williamson.
Palliative care at FirstHealth is provided by a team of professionals dedicated to relieving suffering and improving quality of life for patients and families affected by serious illness. Palliative care is offered along with all other appropriate medical treatments. The focus is on the needs of the patient, whether those needs concern pain and symptom control, counseling, spiritual needs or coordinating links to other community services.
FirstHealth palliative care services are offered in the hospital, at the palliative care outpatient clinic at 305 Page Road in Pinehurst and in select skilled nursing or assisted living facilities.
Williamson joins a team of palliative medicine certified physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and patient representatives at FirstHealth Palliative Care. Patients with a chronic or serious illnesses including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, stroke, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and more can be cared for by the palliative care team.
Patients or family members may request a referral to FirstHealth Palliative Care from their primary care provider. For more information on FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care, visit www.firsthealth.org/hospice.
