Living a Quality of Life Through Palliative Care
Comprehensive treatment focused on comfort, symptom relief, and quality of life throughout your healthcare journey
Understanding Palliative Care
- Focuses on relief from physical suffering while you may be receiving treatment for a disease or living with a chronic condition
- Addresses your physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being at all disease stages
- Accompanies you from diagnosis through treatment, working alongside curative care
- Uses life-prolonging medications and a multi-disciplinary approach with highly trained professionals
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is comprehensive treatment of the discomfort, symptoms and stress of serious illness. It does not replace your primary treatment; palliative care works together with the primary treatment you’re receiving. The goal is to prevent and ease suffering and improve your quality of life.
If you need palliative care, does that mean you’re dying?
No. The purpose of palliative care is to address distressing symptoms such as pain, breathing difficulties or nausea, among others. Receiving palliative care does not necessarily mean you’re dying.
Palliative Care Gives You a Chance to Live Your Life More Comfortably
Palliative care provides relief from distressing symptoms including pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, problems with sleep, and many other symptoms. It can also help you deal with the side effects of the medical treatments you're receiving. Perhaps, most important, palliative care can help improve your quality of life.
Palliative Care is Different from Hospice Care
Palliative care is available to you at any time during your illness. Remember that you can receive palliative care at the same time you receive treatments that are meant to cure your illness. Its availability does not depend upon whether or not your condition can be cured. The goal is to make you as comfortable as possible and improve your quality of life.
What Palliative Care Provides
Palliative care also provides support for you and your family and can improve communication between you and your health care providers.
For You
- Expert treatment of pain and other symptoms
- Open discussion about treatment choices
- Coordination of care with all providers
- Best possible symptom relief
For Your Family
- Emotional support
- Clear communication
- Care coordination
- Resources and guidance
Where Are Services Provided?
Palliative care may be provided in any care setting:
Who Provides These Services?
Palliative care may be provided by an interdisciplinary team. However, most palliative services are provided by a physician, nurse practitioner or nurse with consultative support from social worker and chaplaincy services.
These services are performed in collaboration with the primary care physician and specialists through consultative services or co-management of the patient’s disease process.
Payment & Insurance Coverage
Medicare
Palliative care is covered through Medicare Part B. Some treatments and medications may not be covered.
May be subject to a co-pay according to the plan.
Medicaid
Palliative care is covered through Medicaid. Some treatments and medications may not be covered.
May be subject to a co-pay according to the plan.
Private Insurance
Most private insurers include palliative care as a covered service. Each payer is different, and their palliative services will be outlined through the insurer’s member benefits.
Some treatments and medication may not be covered. May be subject to a co-pay according to the plan.
When Should I Refer?
Patients with advanced chronic illness that have received maximum medical therapy and are at risk of using the hospital for decompression.