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What is Palliative Medicine?
What Can I Expect From Palliative Care?
Is Palliative Care the Same
As Hospice Care?
Must Other Treatments be Stopped
in Order to Receive Palliative Care?
Is Palliative Care Covered by Insurance?
The Palliative Medicine Team
- Who Are They?
Where Do People Receive Palliative
Care?
How Can I Get Palliative Care?
I Am Still Not Sure What Palliative
Care is or if it Can Help Me - Is There Someone I Can Call For More Information?
What is Palliative
Medicine?
Palliative Medicine is medical care focused on relief of pain,
symptoms and stress of serious illness - whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to
help people live comfortably and to provide the best possible quality of life
for patients and their families. Palliative Medicine teams provides answers, relief,
expertise and support for patients and their families throughout their illness
while respecting personal values and preferences.
A patient may benefit from Palliative Medicine services if he/she
:
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has symptoms that are hard to treat such as pain, nausea, fatigue, depression
and anxiety.
-
needs help understanding treatment choices.
-
wants support with making difficult medical decisions.
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needs assistance coordinating treatments from different physicians.
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What Can I Expect From Palliative Care?
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Relief from distressing symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath,
fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.
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Improved ability to carry on with your daily life.
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Improved ability to tolerate medical treatments
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Better understanding of your condition and your choices for medical care.
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Is Palliative Care the Same As Hospice Care?
No. Palliative care is offered at any stage of an advanced or
life-limiting illness, while hospice care is appropriate for people with terminal
illness during the last stages of life.
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Must Other Treatments be Stopped in Order to Receive
Palliative Care?
No. Palliative care is designed to help support treatment patients
are already receiving for their illness. The Palliative Medicine Team works closely
with a patient's primary doctor to ensure complete, well-coordinated treatment.
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Is Palliative Care Covered by Insurance?
Palliative care is covered by Medicare and most other insurance plans.
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The Palliative Medicine Team - Who Are They?
The below are
the members you will most often find on a Palliative Medicine Team. Some teams,
however, may have more members, for example a pharmacist, dietitican.,
etc.
Physicians board-certified
in hospice and palliative care who specialize in recommending medications or treatment
to help relieve pain and symptoms caused by illness or by aggressive curative
treatment.
Nurse practitioners
who have advanced training in palliative medicine and coordinating care in the
hospital, nursing homes, patient's home or in other care settings.
A Social Worker with
advanced training in counseling patients and family members about interpersonal
issues, lifestyle changes, hospital discharge planning, and coordination of community
resources.
A Chaplain who offers
emotional and spiritual support, counseling and coping strategies for patients
and family, according to their faith and individual needs.
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Where Do People Receive Palliative Care?
Palliative care can be delivered anywhere - at home, in the hospital, in
a nursing home or in an outpatient office.
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How Can I Get Palliative Care?
To begin palliative care, speak with your physician. Contact your local hospitals
and ask them if they have a Palliative Medicine Service!
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