Image by denis collette via Flickr

What is Palliative Care?

It focuses on the relief of pain and other symptoms of serious illness. This is to provide the patient with the best quality of life and ease the suffering.

Palliative Care vs. Hospice

Hospice covers palliative care. However, it is focused on the terminally ill who no longer are seeking treatment.

Treatment and Overview

• Can be given at any time during a life-threatening or serious illness.
• Not dependent on a patient’s prognosis.
• It can be provided along with the disease treatment.
• It is customized to meet each individual’s needs

Symptom Relief

• pain
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• nausea
• loss of appetite
• sleep difficulty

Given by a Team

With the collaborative effort of doctors, nurses and social workers, a program is designed to fit the patient’s needs as well as address concerns of the family in the form of help, emotional and spiritual support.

**ATTN: San Diego Residents, A special Palliative Care Program is available through Sharp Hospice Care. It is called “Transitions: Advanced Illness Management”. For all others, check with your local healthcare
organization for similar programs.

Transitions includes:

• Pain management and other problematic symptoms treatment
• Healthcare plan
• Care Options and Consequences
• Spiritual and Emotional Support
• Primary Care Physician, Specially Trained RNs, Medical Social Worker
• Complementary care: Healing Touch, Aromatherapy and Music Therapy.

Qualifications

• Those with advancing chronic illness: Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, recurrent Stroke, Neurological Diseases and Cancer.
• Those with reduced daily function
  

Payment

A senior HMO such as Secure Horizons, may cover this treatment. Traditional Medicare and fee-for-service plans will NOT pay for Transitions. Call 619-667-1900 for more information.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Palliative care group urges more death discussion
• P.E.I. launches palliative home care program