Cincinnati, Ohio, September 24, 2007 — Richard Sternberg, DO, FCCP, of Hamilton has been appointed Medical Director of the VITAS Inpatient Hospice Unit at Fort Hamilton Hospital, Hamilton. In this role, Dr. Sternberg is responsible for day-to-day operations on the 12-bed unit, including assessment of patient symptoms, daily rounds and emergency evaluations. He also is available around the clock as a resource for palliative care consultations.

Dr. Sternberg has served as a team physician for the VITAS inpatient hospice unit at Fort Hamilton Hospital since the unit opened in 2002. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in internal and pulmonary medicine to his new role. Board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine, he is a senior partner at Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Associates in Hamilton.

“Inpatient hospice care can be helpful for a terminally ill patient who experiences symptoms that cannot effectively be managed even under continuous home care, or when a patient faced with severe symptoms is not comfortable remaining at home,” says Dr. Sternberg.

“Inpatient hospice care provides round-the-clock medical attention to relieve pain, nausea, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory distress and other symptoms,” he adds. “As medical director of the inpatient hospice unit, I work closely with each patient’s attending physician, providing updates and discussing plans of care.”

Dr. Sternberg is a member of the American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians, Ohio Osteopathic Association and the Butler County Medical Society.

He received his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, and a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at the University of Cincinnati.