Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care, and the medical specialty of Palliative Medicine, is specialized medical care for people with severe illness or injury needing relief from disease or injury-related symptoms. The related word “palliate” means “to relieve symptoms of pain and suffering.”

Care is provided with a focus on the patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs at the forefront of symptom management. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and stage in a serious illness and can be provided with curative treatment.

Who provides Palliative and Supportive Care?

Palliative and Supportive care is provided by a team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, and other specialists such as chaplains and social workers. Multidisciplinary collaboration allows for the best care possible.

Who Can Benefit?

Any patient who is suffering from unrelieved symptoms as a result of a severe or chronic illness such as the following:

• Dementia/Failure to Thrive
• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Pulmonary Disease
• Liver Disease
• Renal Disease
• Neurological Disease
• Serious Injury

What Services Are Provided?

• Symptom Relief: Our team works together with your doctor to provide relief from pain and other symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
• Support: Patients and their families can undergo challenges and stress when faced with severe illness. Our team provides assistance and counseling to families involved to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Coordination of Care: Our team thoroughly evaluates our patient’s needs and communicates with the patients’ doctors to address the medications and therapeutic interventions required to improve the patients’ experience.
• Patient Advocacy: A severe illness can overwhelm patients and their families. After a thorough evaluation, our team communicates with the medical team to coordinate the best care possible. We also help the patient and their families understand their care and treatment options so that they make informed decisions based on individual values and goals.

End-of-Life Issues

Our team is available to provide assistance that will ensure continued comfort on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level should the patient transition in life’s journey.

Requesting Care

A Palliative Care evaluation can be requested by any patient, family member or healthcare professional.

If you would like more information about the Palliative and Supportive Care Services at Terrebonne General or would like to request an evaluation, please let a member of your healthcare team know or call 985-873-3484.