Health Calls Season 7, Episode 3 explores why palliative care is both a clinical necessity and a mission imperative for Catholic healthcare systems across the United States. Host Brian Reardon and Executive Producer Josh Matejka welcome Dr. Mark Kantrow, System Medical Director for Palliative Care at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOL), to discuss how palliative care improves outcomes for patients with serious illnesses while supporting families through some of life’s most difficult moments.
The conversation challenges common misconceptions that equate palliative care with hospice, emphasizing its role in whole-person care, symptom management, goal setting, and care coordination. Dr. Kantrow explains how interdisciplinary teams, including physicians, nurses, chaplains, and social workers, help align treatment plans with patient values while reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and readmissions. The episode highlights how investing in palliative care advances human dignity, improves patient experiences, strengthens quality outcomes, and reflects the core mission of Catholic healthcare.
Health Calls is available on the following podcast streaming platforms: