Palliative Care

Palliative medicine is a specialty focused on the relief of physical, emotional and spiritual suffering for those affected by life-limiting or complex chronic illnesses. It is a team approach to treating pain and other symptoms while enhancing comfort and the quality of life for patients and their loved ones.

Our approach to care emphasizes living well through serious illness. We offer valuable support for patients and their loved ones so that they can enjoy life to its fullest. In those cases when death is inevitable, palliative medicine enhances the process of achieving a natural, peaceful death.

Care and assistance
We offer special care and assistance for patients facing life-limiting illnesses, and their loved ones, including:

• Aggressive treatment of symptoms such as pain, constipation, shortness of breath, anxiety or agitation.
• Coordinating communication between patients, physicians and loved ones.
• Providing education for loved ones and facilitating discussions about care options.
• Coordinating emotional and spiritual support for patients and their loved ones.
• Helping with hospital discharge details and arrangements for outpatient care.
• Clarifying patient and family end-of-life wishes, including care plans and decisions about withholding or withdrawing medical treatments.
• Planning for end-of-life care, working with hospice when appropriate.

Palliative Medicine Team services can be requested at any point during a life-limiting or complex chronic illness. Patients do not need to have a terminal diagnosis to benefit from these services.

Palliative medicine may be especially helpful for health conditions such as:

• Heart disease.
• Chronic lung disease.
• Renal/liver failure.
• Alzheimer's disease.
• Parkinson's disease.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Cancer.
• Neonatal, genetic/congenital issues.

The Palliative Medicine Team
The team can involve many experts, including:

• You primary physician, the doctor who generally provides your medical care.
• A palliative medicine physician, a doctor who works with your primary physician and the Palliative Medicine Team.
• Physician specialists for special care in areas such as cancer, heart and lung disease.
• A nurse practitioner with expert training in pain and symptom management.
• A pharmacist with expertise in managing medications.
• A chaplain trained to provide spiritual support.
• A social worker who can provide support, counseling and connect to resources.
• Hospice staff, if appropriate for end of life care.

Contacting the Palliative Medicine Team
Ask your doctor about how our Palliative Medicine Team may help. If it is appropriate, the doctor will provide a referral for our services.
You also can request a referral by calling 509-522-5514.

Payment Options
Our goal is to help all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Private insurances, Medicare or Medicaid will be billed for palliative medicine consult services. Our services are also supported by private donations.

Donations
Donations may be made to the program through the St. Mary Medical Center Circle of Caring Foundation. For more information about donations or memorials, call 509-522-5910.