The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for patients with a serious illness and  and support those close to them.

Palliative care:

• Provides relief from the pain, symptoms and stress of a serious illness.
• Helps patients and families with complex decision making.
• Prepares patiens and loved ones for various difficult scenarios.
• Assists with the coordination of care.
• Provides an extra layer of support for patients and loved ones.
• Is a partnership between patients, their supporters and the medical system.
• Helps people have the best possible quality of life for as long as they can.

Palliative care is provided by a team of specialists, including board-certified palliative medicine doctors as well as nurses, social workers, chaplains and others who collaborate with your doctor to provide an extra layer of support during your treatment journey, whether that journey takes place in the clinic or in the hospital. 

Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage of a serious illness. It does not depend upon your prognosis and can be provided at the same time as curative treatments. Hospice care is meant specifically for people approaching the final months of life. 

Recent studies show that patients who receive palliative care show improvement in pain and other symptoms such as nausea or shortness of breath; communication with their doctors and family members; and emotional and spiritual well-being.

Palliative care is tailored to the needs of each patient and their family as the goals for care and quality of life differ greatly. We recognize that these goals may also change over time.

Palliative care teams can offer:

• Assistance in relieving symptoms of medical illness such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation and nausea.
• Coordination with your medical team to ensure you understand your condition and options for medical care.
• Emotional, social and spiritual support.

If you are interested in receiving palliative care for your illness while in the hospital, the first step is to speak to the doctor who is treating you. Be sure to explain to your attending doctor what is important for improving your quality of life and your doctor can refer you to palliative care, if appropriate.

If you are not in the hospital and are interested in consulting with a palliative care physician, please ask your primary care provider (PCP) or the physician who is managing your illness for a referral.

Our Palliative Care team recognizes that there are often many people in a patient's life who offer special types of support. Parents, children, siblings, extended family, religious leaders, friends and primary care physicians often provide levels of care that few or no others can. Therefore, it is our goal to provide assistance to them.

Palliative care is holistic, focusing on mind, body and spiritual aspects of illness.

Our team works to improve the quality of life for everyone involved in caring for the patient, including:

• The patient: Suffering from serious progressive illness such as cancer, chronic lung disease, heart disease, liver disease, kidney failure or dementia.
• Family members: May be suffering physically, emotionally and spiritually as they navigate and support the patient, but often do not seek assistance for themselves.
• Healthcare providers: Navigating with their own emotions as they grow closer to a patient or family who is facing a serious illness.

For more information about palliative care, please contact your PCP.