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Palliative Care

Being faced with a serious, chronic or life limiting illness can affect you or your loved one in many ways.

Doctor holding patient hand

HSHS St. Vincent Hospital is pleased to offer a Palliative Care Program that can help:

  • Those with serious, chronic, or life-limiting illness that are having difficulty with symptom management
  • Those with life-altering health events
  • Those experiencing many hospital admissions
  • Those with changing care goals

Philosophy

The philosophy of palliative care is to focus on quality of life issues, symptom management, communication, and emotional and spiritual wellness while continuing some form of therapy for the chronic illness itself. Treatment decisions are made in the context of maximizing quality of life while understanding that the ultimate disease outcome may not change.

Palliative Care can complement active treatment of your disease or include hospice and is beneficial at any stage of illness. Palliative Care is an evidence-supported means to meet the needs of those who are suffering from serious, chronic or life limiting illness.

Some of the ways that Palliative Care can meet your needs include:

  • Treatment of your unique symptom management needs, including but not limited to: pain, nausea, constipation, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, confusion, and shortness of breath
  • Focusing on improving your quality of life and reducing hospitalizations
  • Helping to make health care decisions and set personal goals
  • Helping with communication among the patient, family members, and staff about treatment goals
  • Discussing advance directive planning and code status
  • Providing comfort and support during a life altering illness or injury
  • Listening and support for your caregivers
  • Addressing spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families
  • Assisting with the plan after you leave the hospital