Segismundo (Picky) Pares, MD

Medical Director

Hospice of Marion County

Physician Board and former Chief of Medicine

Munroe Regional Medical Center & Hospice County, Inc.

Ocala

Crusader for Care Beyond Cure

The first son of Cuban immigrant parents, Segismundo Pares blends his heritage of family-oriented care with American know-how into a one-of-a-kind physician of the future.  Dr. Pares has been a crusader for those in pain since the beginning of his career.  He received a degree in Pharmacy, followed four years later by his medical degree, and specialized in family practice.  Early on, he felt called to perform mission work both here and abroad, including care for children with cancer in Tampico, Mexico, and providing immunizations to more than 400 children at the New Hope School in Uganda.

Dr. Pares carried that mission of serving throughout his lucrative private practice and ultimately decided to devote himself fulltime as a salaried employee in hospice care.  The consummate hospice doctor, Dr. Pares is board-certified in Family Practice, Geriatric Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  He is known by his childhood nickname, Picky, which suits his easy manner and congenial style.  In addition to patient care, he speaks to community groups in any venue – reaching 1,300 people in 2006 alone.

The Talk

Each and every patient feels that Picky Pares takes the time to spend with them, and fellow physicians often ask him to deliver what they call “the talk.”  Although no one looks forward to giving someone a terminal diagnosis, Picky’s rock-solid faith and deep understanding of death as a natural part of life gives his “talk” a dose of honest communication that many patients have never experienced.  He often tells them, “We can’t fix you and we can’t rehab you, but we can keep you comfortable until you pass.”  Somehow, those kind-yet-direct words hit home, allowing for acceptance and peace in one’s final days.

Dressed in his trademark khakis and knapsack, Picky often gives “the talk” kneeling at the bedside, looking directly into the patient’s eyes.  He intuitively meets everyone at his/her own level, never showing a trace of being superior, dismissive or impatient.  Once a nurse noticed that he held that position for 45 minutes while the patient and family asked questions.  He made no hurried excuses to leave; taking all the time that was needed for that one patient.  The nurse commented about the state of his pants after all that kneeling.  His reply:  “We have a washing machine at home...if they need it!”

Care Beyond Cure

In November 2006, Dr. Pares identified a need and immediately went to work to fix it.  At a Chicago medical conference, he learned that 80 percent of hospital patients could benefit from palliative treatment, whether terminal or not.  That fact jolted him into a new reality.  In an instant, he determined to change that statistic – at least in Marion County.  Single-handedly, he began doing consults on hospital patients, recommending appropriate pain or symptom-relieving medications for anyone at any age or any stage in their illness who was suffering needlessly.  Despite some expected initial resistance from personnel, Dr. Pares continually educates his peers at every opportunity on the practical advantages of palliative medicine.  Immediately, his crusade took off as patients responded positively and regained a higher quality of life.

By year’s end, Dr. Pares envisioned a joint program with the hospital to provide a consulting service that would serve patients hospital-wide, not just in the ICU or ED.  With the full support of both the hospital and hospice, he pulled together a team from both entities to attend a workshop at the Palliative Care Leadership Center in Kentucky to study a hospital/hospice program that most closely resembled the situation in Ocala.  Although the program will undoubtedly be in the red for the first few years, it was the team’s consensus that making this care available is “the right thing to do.”  Within weeks of their return from Kentucky, the Center for Comprehensive Palliative Care, a separate legal company, was formed by Hospice of Marion County, Inc. to provide consulting services to the hospitals.  A seasoned geriatric nurse specialist with the creation of two prior palliative care programs under her belt was hired to assist him.  Year-to-date, the dynamic duo has provided 200 consults, not to mention the presentation of numerous educational meetings from board members to volunteers, and every medical discipline in between.  So far, the program has received 100 percent buy-in because...it is the right thing to do...and Picky Pares is the right man to do it.

A crusader for those in pain and a hero for hospice patients, Dr. Segismundo “Picky” Pares is a shining example for all of us to emulate.

Lila Ivey, Director, Community Outreach

Hospice of Marion County, Inc.

Ocala