|
End-of-Life Care
Palliative care is specialized medical care provided by an interdisciplinary team, including the professions of medicine, nursing, social work, chaplaincy, counseling, and other health care professionals, focused on the relief of suffering and support for the best possible quality of life for patients facing serious life-threatening illness, and their families. Special attention is given to physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.
Palliative care evaluation and treatment are comprehensive and patient-centered, with a focus on the central role of the family unit in decision-making. Palliative care affirms life by supporting the patient and family’s goals for the future, including their hopes for cure or life-prolongation, as well as their hopes for peace and dignity throughout the course of illness, the dying process and death. Palliative care aims to guide and assist the patient and family in making decisions that enable them to work toward their goals during whatever time they have left.
The Benefits of Palliative Care
Facing a serious illness is one of most difficult experiences in life, and patients and families need information, expertise, and support. We can assist by providing:
Aggressive treatment of pain and symptoms
Enhancement of function
Coordination of care throughout the course of illness
Assistance to patients and families trying to navigate the healthcare system.
Coordination and facilitation of discussions between patients, families and physicians regarding goals of care
End-of-life education and counseling
Collaboration with social services, case management and pastoral counselors
Hospice and Home Health Care referrals
Bereavement counseling and referrals
Advance Directive Planning
Emotional and spiritual support for patients and families
Staff education and support
Community education
The Palliative Care Department accepts physician and self-referrals. For more information, call the Palliative Care Department at 850-416-7705.
|
|
