Dr. Robert Joseph Zalenski, MD, MA / Dedicated to the relief of avoidable suffering for our patients and their families.
Hospice and Palliative Care Specialist | Hospice and Palliative Medicine
44405 Woodward Ave Pontiac MI, 48341About
Dr. Robert Zalenski is a palliative care specialist practicing at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, in Pontiac MI. Dr. Zalenski works with a palliative interdisciplinary team to provide care to patients who are suffering from serious illness. Palliative Care focuses on understanding the whole person, improving quality of life and honoring patients wishes. As a palliative care specialist, Dr. Zalenski works to control distressing symptoms, clarify patients' goals, and achieve excellent communication across the health care team.
Education and Training
University of Miami MD 1984
University of Pittsburgh MA 1977
Georgetown University BA 1974
Board Certification
Hospice and Palliative Care (Emergency Medicine)
Provider Details
Dr. Robert Joseph Zalenski, MD, MA / Dedicated to the relief of avoidable suffering for our patients and their families.'s Expert Contributions
What can we do to make my father more comfortable?
Hospice is designed to ensure that patients are comfortable. Getting comfortable is a process and may take a series of steps, but it is the holy grail, the raison d’etre of hospice. Your hospice RN will lead this effort, and deploy the resources of the hospice physician and the reset of the interdisciplinary team to ensure comfort. If this is not happening for any reason, contact the hospice team doctor or the hospice RN supervisor for help. May blessings come to your dad, and to you his loving family during this sacred time. READ MORE
Expert Publications
Data provided by the National Library of Medicine- Diagnostic testing of the emergency department patient with chest pain.
- Patient satisfaction with an emergency department asthma observation unit.
- Emergency department observation unit funding.
- Predicting recovery from acute asthma in an emergency diagnostic and treatment unit.
- Stress testing for risk stratification of patients with low to moderate probability of acute cardiac ischemia.
- Observation services--past, present, and future.
- ECG scores for a triage of patients with acute myocardial infarction transported by the emergency medical system.
- A prediction model for prehospital triage of patients with suspected cardiac ischemia.
- Overview: diagnosing acute cardiac ischemia in the emergency department. A report from the National Heart Attack Alert Program.
- The chest pain center in the emergency department.
- Critical pathways for management of patients with acute coronary syndromes: an
- Untreated hypercholesterolemia in an emergency department chest pain observation unit population.
- Mortality benefit of immediate revascularization of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in patients with contraindications to thrombolytic therapy: a propensity analysis.
- ST-segment depression on the initial electrocardiogram in acute myocardial infarction-prognostic significance and its effect on short-term mortality: A report from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (NRMI-2, 3, 4).
- Glucose-insulin-potassium infusion and mortality in the CREATE-ECLA trial.
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Emeritus Professor of Emergency Medicine Wayne State University School of Medicine 2017 - Present
- Professor of Internal Medicine Ross University School of Medicine 2017 - Present
- Palliative Medicine Rotation Director Internal Medicine Residency, SJMO 2021 - Present
Awards
- Certificate in Recognition and Appreciation of Service to the Medically Underserved, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service 1992 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service
- Certificate of Recognition for dedicated service to the National Heart Attack Alert Program 2001 National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Dreams and Mortal Illness 2006 The Communicator Awards
- Crystal Rose Award for Excellence in Palliative Care 2007 Hospice of Michigan
- Excellence in Research Award for Physicians in Clinical Research, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation (Best Clinical Paper, for publication in Archives Internal Medicine, 1997) 1997 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation
Professional Memberships
- American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Charities and Philanthropic Endeavors
- Volunteer Physician, Camp Kangaroo (Children’s Bereavement Camp), Season’s Hospice Foundation, Chicago, IL
Areas of research
HS RO1: "Emergency Medicine Diagnostic and Treatment Units,” Principal Investigator, Agency for Health Care Policy & Research, U.S. Public Health Service
The Centers for Disease Control, "HIV Infection in Emergency Room Patients and Risk of Acquisition of HIV Infection by Emergency Room Workers,” Principal Investigator, Metropolitan Chicago Sites.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Controlled Trial of Palliative Care Consultation in Hospitalized Patients with Advanced Heart Failure, Principal Investigator
Dr. Robert Joseph Zalenski, MD, MA / Dedicated to the relief of avoidable suffering for our patients and their families.'s Practice location
Dr. Robert Joseph Zalenski, MD, MA / Dedicated to the relief of avoidable suffering for our patients and their families.'s reviews
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Nearest Hospitals
ST JOSEPH MERCY OAKLANDl
44405 WOODWARD AVE PONTIAC MI 48341MCLAREN OAKLANDl
50 NORTH PERRY PONTIAC MI 48342