Palliative
care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. This type
of care is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain
and stresses of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to
improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care
works with a patient’s primary medical team to provide an extra layer of
support. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a
serious illness and can be provided together with curative treatment.
The
Christ Hospital Health Network’s Palliative Care Consultation Service includes
doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and pharmacists who are specially
trained to meet the complex needs of patients who are hospitalized with serious
illnesses like cancer, cardiac disease, lung disease, kidney failure, dementia,
and more. The palliative care team provides expert management of symptoms such
as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite,
difficulty sleeping, and depression. The team also offers emotional and
spiritual care and helps patients and families have more control over their
care by improving their understanding of choices for treatment.
The Christ Hospital has
earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced
Certification for Palliative Care, a symbol of quality
that recognizes organizations that demonstrate
exceptional patient and family-centered care in order to optimize the quality
of life for patients with serious illnesses. The
Christ Hospital Palliative Care Service is the first program to earn this
distinction in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions