Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer, heart disease, kidney failure or ALS. Our team focuses on relieving suffering and improving quality of life. This can include addressing symptoms or side effects caused by the illness or treatment. We also work with patients on the emotional, social, practical and spiritual issues that illnesses can bring up.
Studies show that palliative care programs can help:
- Manage pain and distressing symptoms
- Support difficult decision making and the goals of care
- Improve quality of life and satisfaction for patients and their families
- Ease burdens of providers and caregivers
- Ease the transition to more appropriate care settings
Our care team can help with a variety of needs, including:
- Addressing the medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the patient and family
- Educating the patient and family about the expected disease progression and prognosis
- Developing a plan of care
- Facilitating communication between health care providers and the patient and family
- Coordinating services with other agencies, such as long-term care, home health, hospice and rehabilitation
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What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Palliative care is available for patients in any stage of a progressive illness. Hospice care focuses on similar issues, but supports people who have a prognosis of less than six months and are no longer seeking aggressive life-prolonging medical therapies.
What types of conditions can be helped by palliative care?
All chronic or serious illnesses including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, stroke, kidney disease, Alzheimer's and more.
When is it appropriate to consider palliative care?
Palliative care is best introduced soon after diagnosis of a progressive or life-threatening illness but can be considered at any time throughout the course of the illness.
How can I request palliative care?
You can call (910) 715-6067 for a self-referral to FirstHealth Palliative Care or talk with your doctor about a referral.
