Palliative Care

The Process

The palliative care process begins with a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s ailments. Our palliative team then recommends interventions that help meet 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.

Our palliative medical team monitors and treats symptoms and side effects throughout treatment to maintain quality of life in a home environment.

The Palliative Team

Palliative physician: The palliative physician directs care and consults with you, your family and your physician to ensure the care plan is being met.

Palliative nurse practitioner: A nurse practitioner (NP) coordinates the palliative patient care services. Services include assessment, evaluation of disease processes, supportive care and other treatments as needed or ordered.

LVN palliative coordinator: A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) coordinates all incoming inquiries, requests and questions. Our palliative coordinator will likely be the first person you speak to and your main point of contact throughout your time on service.

Social worker: Upon request a social worker will provide you and your family with counseling and emotional support, as well as assistance with advance directives, living wills and coordination of community resources.

Spiritual counselor: Upon request a spiritual counselor will offer guidance and support for you and your family.

Palliative medicine focuses on the larger perspective of a patient’s needs and well-being, rather than high technology interventions as the course of an illness progresses. The care plan is tailored to the patients’ and families’ priorities and values, taking into consideration their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.