Palliative Care is appropriate from the time of diagnosis and is an extra layer of support for the patient and family facing a serious illness. Treatment is tailored to meet the needs of the patient and family to harmonize with their values.
The goal of palliative care is to support the best possible quality of life by providing education, guidance, and medical expertise aimed at alleviating or preventing the stresses of illness.
Mercy’s Palliative Care team consists of professionals with specialized training and certifications. The primary team includes a medical director, nurse practitioner, nurses, social workers, and chaplains. Your regular health care provider is involved, as are pharmacists, therapists (respiratory, physical, occupational, and speech), nutritionists, and volunteers.
Palliative care is for anyone with a serious illness, at any age, any stage of an illness, and along with curative treatment. It is not dependent on prognosis.
Hospice is an important Medicare benefit that provides palliative care for terminally ill patients who may have only months to live. People who receive hospice are also no longer receiving curative treatment for their underlying disease. To start Palliative care, please talk with your provider or nurse.