Palliative Care

Providing comfort, peace and dignity at a special time in life.

“The art of life is the art of avoiding pain;and he is the best pilot, who steers clearest of the rocks and shoals with which it is beset.” Thomas Jefferson

Hours, Locations, Maps and Directions

 

What Is Palliative Care?

Palliative Care is an inter-disciplinary approach to the care of persons with illnesses no longer responsive to curative treatment. The goal of palliative care is to achieve and sustain the highest quality of life for patients and their families by providing aggressive pain and symptom management, together with psychosocial and spiritual support to lessen suffering.

Who Receives Palliative Care Treatment?

People with any chronic medical condition, which most likely cannot be cured, can benefit from palliative care services. These conditions include cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, lung and/or neurological diseases. People who are receiving aggressive treatment for their diseases often experience side effects. These individuals can also receive palliative care services to assist with symptom management and to receive psychological, emotional, financial and spiritual support.

How is Palliative Care Different From Hospice Care?

Palliative care includes but is not limited to hospice care. Hospice can only provide services to people with a terminal disease who have less than six months life expectancy. People receiving hospice services can no longer receive treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, frequent blood transfusions, and certain medications. Palliative care does not share the same limitations as many hospice programs, and can follow any person with a potentially life-limiting diseases. If hospice care becomes appropriate at the end of life, the palliative care team will work with your local hospice agency to provide terminal care.

Who Is My Doctor and Who Is The Palliative Care Team?

Patients often keep their own doctor with the palliative care physician acting as a consultant. Some people choose the palliative care physician to manage their care when symptom management and/or end of life care is the main focus. The palliative care team includes nurses, social worker, chaplain and if needed, physical, occupational or speech therapists.

What Services Can You Offer Me?

We see patients in our outpatient clinics at the UVA Cancer Center, located on the 4th Floor of the Hospital West Complex. The palliative care team also sees inpatients by providing consults throughout the hospital or in our dedicated Palliative Care Unit. Some of our patients remain at home and are followed by their local hospice program.

Is It Possible To Die With Dignity?

PBS has produced a four-part series on dying with dignity.  To learn more about the series that aired in September 2000 and how to order a videotape, please visit www.pbs.org/wnet/onourownterms/

 

Hours, Locations, Maps and Directions

Palliative Care Online Resources