Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Surgery) Physician
Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians › Surgery › Hospice and Palliative Medicine
About this specialty
A surgeon with special knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This specialist works with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize quality of life while addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patient and family throughout the course of the disease, through the dying process, and beyond for the family. This specialist has expertise in the assessment of patients with advanced disease; the relief of distressing symptoms; the coordination of interdisciplinary patient and family-centered care in diverse venues; the use of specialized care systems including hospice; the management of the imminently dying patient; and legal and ethical decision making in end-of-life care.
Source: American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, www.aahpm.org [1/1/2007: new]
Highest Medicare-paid providers
| Provider | Location | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|
| SAMY SAKER, M.D. | NEW CITY, NY | $1,872,936 |
| KARL AHLSWEDE, MD | WILLIAMSPORT, PA | $109,777 |
| MATTHEW BARTEK, M.D., M.P.H. | BOSTON, MA | $98,899 |
| HELEN GORDON, M.D. | TOWSON, MD | $91,679 |
| ANNE HENDERSON, MD | PHOENIX, AZ | $45,760 |
| KARAN SONI, MD | DES MOINES, IA | $31,619 |
| DEBORAH ARAYA, PA-C | LA PLATA, MD | $28,286 |
| WIL SANTIVASI, M.D. | ROCHESTER, MN | $19,604 |
| DONNELLE CROUSE, D.O. | DANVILLE, PA | $15,267 |
| MICHELLE BERGERON, MD | LAFAYETTE, LA | $10,174 |
Ranked by total Medicare payments — a measure of billing volume, not care quality.
Taxonomy definitions from the NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy (public domain). Provider counts derived from NPPES; payment figures from CMS Medicare data. Not affiliated with CMS, NPPES, NUCC, or any government agency.