Palliative Medicine

If you or someone you love has pain or other symptoms related to a serious illness, our Palliative Medicine team can help.

Palliative Medicine is designed to be integrated as part of a patient’s care plan at anytime, to manage symptoms related to treatment such as chemotherapy, or for symptoms that linger or appear after treatment is complete.

What is Palliative Medicine?

Palliative medicine is the comprehensive treatment of the discomfort, symptoms and stress of serious illness. It does not replace a patient’s primary treatment, but works together with treatment at any point in a patient’s care.

Palliative medicine also addresses psychological, social, and spiritual concerns – all to achieve the best quality of life possible for each patient.

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The Palliative Medicine team works with patients to identify issues that have an impact on a person’s quality of life and eliminate or minimize these problems.

The Palliative Medicine team can help patients manage the common side effects of illness such as: pain, fatigue, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, depression and anxiety, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite and weight loss, weakness, sleep problems, confusion, and end-of-life care.

The Palliative Medicine Team

A board-certified Hospice and Palliative Medicine physician and clinical nurse educator lead a team of:

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Counselors
• Chaplains
• Dietitians
• Therapists
• Complementary medicine specialists

Patients benefit from this unique mix of skills as the team works together to identify each patient’s goals and develops individualized care plans that respect patient’s values, goals and lifestyle. This team works collaboratively with the patient’s primary medical care team to ensure seamless care.

Family members receive education and support to develop and strengthen coping strategies in the treatment and care of their loved one.

When appropriate, the  Palliative Medicine team offers referral services to visiting nurse agencies, hospice programs, physical therapy, and support groups to meet all patient and family needs.

Is Palliative Medicine the same as hospice?

Palliative care is not hospice care. Hospice care focuses solely on a person’s final months of life. 

Palliative Medicine is available to patients along with treatment or on its own. Palliative care can be added to a patient’s care plan at anytime, to manage symptoms related to treatment such as chemotherapy, or for symptoms that linger or appear after treatment is complete.