Palliative care focuses on the comfort and symptom management needs of patients with advanced illnesses. These patients are continuing curative therapies, such as surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Unlike Hospice, which has an admission guideline of a life expectancy of less than six months, palliative care is available to patients with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy.  

Palliative care may be appropriate when:

• A patient's pain and symptoms are becoming difficult to manage
• There is a decline in the patient's condition
• The focus of the patient's care is on comfort and quality of life
• Other treatment methods are no longer effective

Palliative Care physicians and care teams may be asked by your doctor to partner in your care while you are in the hospital. Their purpose is to manage your pain and symptoms, or provide support for treatment decisions you may face. The Palliative Care Team consists of physicians, advanced practice nurses, a pharmacist, social worker, and chaplain. The goal of the Palliative Care Team is to work closely with your doctors to enhance your quality of life. Our guiding principles are empathy, comfort, support and respect for life.

We provide a team approach to patient care with individualized plans developed to meet each patient's specific needs.  Our team includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and chaplains.  We also provide support with physical, social, spiritual, advanced care planning and practical concerns.  Our team works together to provide:

• Pain and symptom control
• Support for family/caregivers
• Assistance with treatment decisions
• Improved quality of life at home or in the nursing home, hospital or hospice facility
• Support to help the patient live as actively as possible
• Assistance with determining the goals of care when faced with complex healthcare decisions
• Spiritual counseling
• Psychological counseling
• Grief and bereavement support for family members

For more information about the Palliative Care Program at Methodist Healthcare, please call 901.516.1600.