Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. This type of care is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness – whatever the diagnosis.
The Goal of Palliative Care
- To improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
- To include expertise from palliative doctors, nurses, social workers and other specialists in collaboration with a patient’s other doctors.
- To provide an extra layer of support.
- To care for patients at any age, any stage in a serious illness, and together with curative treatment.
Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
Palliative Care
- Quality of Life Focus
- Interdisciplinary Team – MD, RN, MSW, Chaplain
- Provided in Hospitals and as an Outpatient Consultative Service
- Serious or Advanced Illness
- Prognosis-No Limit
- Curative and Comfort Care at Same Time
- Usually Not Covered by Insurance or Medicare
Hospice Care
- Quality of Life Focus
- Interdisciplinary Team-MD, RN, MSW, Chaplain, Home Health Aide, Volunteers
Provided in Homes, Skilled Nursing, Retirement Residences and Dedicated Hospice Inpatient Unites - Includes Pharmaceuticals, Medical Equipment, and Bereavement Support
- Terminal Diagnosis or End Stage
- Prognosis-6 Months or Less with Ongoing Decline
- Comfort Care Only – Curative Treatment Usually Stopped
- Covered by Medicare and Most Insurances
Examples of Palliative Care Referrals
Patients with:
- Pain, psychosocial or spiritual suffering, or other symptoms of distress
- ICU stay and poor prognosis
- Complex decision-making needs
- Prolonged hospital stay without improvements
- Life-sustaining treatments needing to be discontinued
- Need of support near death for self and family