Provider Bedside Palliative Care Patient

Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with serious illness. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Services

Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses, and social workers. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of a serious illness.

Palliative care is often associated with hospice and end of life care. While most patients seen by palliative care have a serious or advanced illness, the palliative care team most often works alongside other medical teams to provide quality care for patients who are receiving life-sustaining or restorative treatments. In addition to assessing and treating patients with serious illnesses, we also help patients and their families make difficult medical decisions.

Find a Palliative Care Provider

Hospital and Outpatient Settings

Palliative care is available in the hospital setting and in the outpatient oncology clinic. For select patients, home-based care is also available. Treatment and assistance of patients and families include  the following conditions:

  • cancer
  • heart failure
  • lung disease
  • advanced liver
  • kidney problems, or
  • dementia

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms managed by Palliative Medicine specialists include:

  • pain
  • nausea
  • constipation
  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • anxiety
  • agitation

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