What is Palliative Care?
Palliative medicine is a specialized medical approach to optimize quality of life by anticipating or preventing, and treating pain and discomfort. It is appropriate at any point in an illness and can be delivered along with curative treatments. Palliative medicine is both a philosophy of care and a process for delivering care. Palliative medicine is provided by a team of professionals who treat the patient and family, addressing their medical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Our interdisciplinary team coordinates care delivery with your physician to reduce pain and manage symptoms.
The palliative care process begins with a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s ailments. Our Palliative Team then recommends interventions that are helpful in meeting the patients’ and families’ goals. Weighing the burden of treatment options against the potential benefit, we counsel patients about their options, respecting their right to choose their course of treatment. Throughout their chosen treatment, our palliative medical team monitors and treats symptoms and side effects, with a goal of maintaining quality of life in their home environment.
Who May Benefit?
Anyone who is experiencing uncontrolled symptoms related to surgery or serious and life-limiting illness including but not limited to:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cancer
- Congestive heart failure
- Kidney illness
- Stroke
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Emphysema
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Dementia / Alzheimer’s disease
