• Palliative care is medical care for patients of any age, at any stage of serious illness.
• Palliative care services are provide throughout the illness and in conjunction with other treatment.
• The palliative care team includes: physician, nurse, social worker and chaplain.
• The palliative care team will provide physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual care based on the needs of the patient and the family.

View our Palliative Care Services brochure 

WHY PALLIATIVE CARE?
Dealing with a serious illness can make day-to-day living difficult and cause the patient and family to feel out of control.

• The patient may feel that he or she is no longer contributing to the family unit.
• Family members may experience feelings of guilt or helplessness.
• Patients may need help with mobility and self- care when they are discharged to home.
• The cost of new medications may be overwhelming and result in financial distress.

The palliative care team can help the patient and family find ways to deal with all of these concerns and provide education on what can be expected with the illness.

THE PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM PROCESS

• The patient's primary physician will order a consult in response to a specific need.
• The palliative care team will meet with the patient and family to determine the patient's goals of care.
• Based on the patient's goals of care, the team will address the needs of the patient and family.

ABOUT THE CHAPLAIN
Patients and families may have questions and concerns that they are not comfortable talking about with their own spiritual leader. The palliative care team chaplain is non-denominational and can listen to spiritual concerns of the patient and family.

ABOUT THE SOCIAL WORKER
The social worker can assist with determining are needs at discharge and help arrange these services. The social worker is also available to provide resource information regarding financial concerns, or just simply serve as someone to listen.

THE FAMILY SPOKESPERSON
The palliative care team will ask that one individual be designated as the family spokesperson. The care team will communicate with this person, who can then share information with the rest of the family. If the patient and/or family requests a group conference, all family members are welcome to attend.

GOALS OF CARE
The palliative care team's goals of care for the patient mirror the hopes, expectations and goals of the patient's medical treatment.