Dr. Susan Nelson – Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Contact & Appointment Information

• Ochsner Medical Center
• Address:
  1514 Jefferson Highway
  New Orleans, Louisiana 70121
• Phone: 504-703-7640

Department: Hospice & Palliative Medicine

About Dr. Susan Nelson, MD

A Leader in Hospice, Palliative Medicine, and Caring Support in Louisiana

Modern medicine does more than cure sickness. It brings dignity, comfort, and kind care to patients with grave illnesses. Dr. Susan Nelson, MD, lives this truth. She leads in hospice and palliative medicine. Experts rank her among America’s Top 50 Doctors.

Dr. Susan Nelson brings over 30 years of experience to health care. She works to better life for patients with severe, late-stage diseases. Her role goes past seeing patients. She pushes for systems that put patients first. These systems offer care and aid to people and families in tough times.

At Ochsner Medical Center, she holds key leadership spots. There, she molds palliative medicine, hospice, and bioethics in Louisiana and the U.S.

Her path shows deep promise in medicine, ethics, teaching, and support for those with short lives ahead.

What Is Hospice and Palliative Medicine?

To grasp Dr. Susan Nelson’s work, know her field first.

This medicine boosts life quality for patients with dire or deadly illnesses. It differs from care that chases cures alone. Palliative care meets all patient needs, such as:

• Pain relief and body comfort
• Mind and heart support
• Soul care
• Talks with loved ones
• Choices on treatments that fit ethics

Teams of doctors join with nurses, social workers, chaplains, and healers.

For over 30 years, Dr. Susan Nelson has built systems for this kind of care.

First Steps in Medical School and Sparks of Drive

Dr. Susan Nelson started at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She got her MD there.

Med school tests limits and changes lives. Students study body science. They gain hands-on time in hospitals and local clinics.

For her, this built love for internal medicine. She grew keen on hard cases with lasting, deep illnesses.

Her Texas training covered:

• Body functions
• Handling sickness
• Smart choices in care
• Care that centers on patients

This tough prep set her for more medical steps.

Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine

Next, she did an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Internal medicine covers broad adult health issues. Doctors spot and treat lasting ills, bugs, and body-wide problems.

Training honed her skills in:

• Spotting illness
• Managing long-term disease
• Talking with patients
• Team-based care

Dr. Susan Nelson saw the struggles of those with late illnesses up close.

These days fueled her drive to fix care for life-shortened patients.

Board Certified with Sharp Skills

The American Board of Internal Medicine certifies Dr. Susan Nelson. It proves her skill in internal medicine and high practice standards.

She also holds certs in:

• Geriatrics
• Hospice and Palliative Medicine

These fields link well.

Geriatrics aids older folks’ health. Hospice and palliative care meets needs of seriously ill patients.

Side by side, they let doctors like her give full care to elders and tough cases.

30 Years Pushing for Kind Care

In 30 years, Dr. Susan Nelson has labored to upgrade care for patients with serious illnesses.

She builds models that stress:

• Kindness
• Clear talks
• Right choices
• Patient worth
• Aid for families

Care must hit the heart and personal side, not just treatments. She holds that view.

Her lead has changed palliative care in big health groups.

Key Roles at Ochsner Health

Ochsner Health ranks large and trusted organization in the area. Dr. Susan Nelson leads them in key ways.

Her titles:

• Medical Director of Post-Acute Care for Ochsner Health Network
• System Chair of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care
• System Chair of Bioethics

From these, she steers patient-first models. They help those with hard health needs.

She gives staff tools, lessons, and backing for kind care across Ochsner.

Medical Director of Post-Acute Care

In this job, Dr. Nelson runs care for patients healing from bad sickness or hospital stays.

Post-acute care covers:

• Rehab
• Expert nursing
• Plans for long care
• Links from hospitals to home docs

Good post-acute work eases shifts to home or community.

Her lead makes these moves safe, smooth, and helpful for patients and kin.

Pushing Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care

As System Chair of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Dr. Susan Nelson heads efforts for life-short patients.

Supportive care lifts life quality with:

• Pain and symptom control
• Mind support
• Family guidance
• Care teamwork

This way keeps dignity and ease in illness.

Dr. Susan Nelson weaves palliative services into hospitals, clinics, and community spots.

Lead in Medical Ethics

Dr. Nelson also chairs Bioethics at Ochsner Health, beyond clinic and admin work.

Bioethics tackles hard right-wrong issues in health.

Think about choices on:

• Life-keeping treatments
• Care at life’s end
• Patient choice
• Plans ahead

Her lead helps staff handle these with care for patient views.

She boosts ethics that honor worth, respect, and kind words.

Fellowships and Top Honors

Dr. Nelson claims Fellow status in two top groups:

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

American College of Physicians

Fellowship goes to doctors who excel in patient care, leadership, teaching, and service.

These awards highlight Dr. Nelson’s deep commitment to better patient care and progress in palliative medicine.

Leadership in the LaPOST Coalition

Dr. Nelson chairs the LaPOST Coalition.

LaPOST means Louisiana Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment. It helps patients with serious illnesses get clear orders that match their wishes.

The program lets patients share views on life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, and medical steps.

LaPOST forms move with patients through care settings. They make sure all providers honor patient choices.

Work with National POLST Efforts

Dr. Nelson’s reach goes past Louisiana.

She sits on the Leadership Council for National POLST Initiatives. This group builds and spreads POLST programs across the U.S.

POLST means Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. These programs boost talks between patients, families, and providers. They match treatments to patient values.

Dr. Nelson’s efforts aid better health choices for people with life-shortening illnesses nationwide.

A Patient-Focused Approach

Dr. Nelson’s care stems from strong compassion.

She holds that health care should meet each patient’s unique needs. This covers personal values, cultural views, emotions, and family ties.

She listens well and honors wishes. This makes sure care fits what matters most to her patients.

Honor as One of America’s Top 50 Doctors

Dr. Nelson’s key work in health care earned her a spot among America’s Top 50 Doctors.

This award honors doctors with great commitment to their work and a real impact on patients.

For Dr. Nelson, it marks years of helping patients with serious illness.

Conclusion

Susan Nelson, MD’s career shows the strength of kind health care.

She studied at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and trained at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Now she leads at Ochsner Health. She gives her life to better care for those with grave illnesses.

Her push for change, leadership, and skills reshapes how systems aid people with life limits.

Named among America’s Top 50 Doctors, she shapes hospice and palliative medicine. She ensures patients get dignity, ease, and respect.

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