Palliative Care
Palliative care sees the person beyond the disease.
It is a fundamental shift in how health care is delivered.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.
To learn more, please listen to a question and answer session led by Cardinale Smith, MD, PhD, Mount Sinai Health System.
How Do I Know That It Is Right For Me Or My Loved One?
Palliative care may be right for you if you suffer from pain, stress or other symptoms due to a serious illness.
Will Insurance Pay For It?
Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover palliative care. It is handled like other medical services, such as oncology and cardiology.
How Can I Learn More?
getpalliativecare.org
palliativedoctors.org
When Is The Right Time To Begin Palliative Care?
Palliative Care can occur at the same time as all other treatments for your illness. There’s absolutely no reason to wait. In fact, some studies have shown that palliative care may extend life. Pain and other symptoms affect your quality of life, and stress can have a big impact on your family. The palliative care team can help.
Who Provides Palliative Care?
Palliative care is provided by a team that includes palliative care doctors, nurses, social workers, art therapists, chaplains and other practitioners.
How Do I Get Palliative Care?
Getting palliative care is easy. Just ask for it. You may have been referred to the palliative care team, but if not, just ask your doctor for a referral. The palliative care team works together with your primary doctor and health care team.