PALLIATIVE CARE
What Is Palliative Care?
At Supportive Medicine Specialists, we specialize in palliative care—a medical approach focused on improving the quality of life for individuals living with serious illness. Palliative care is about relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious condition, regardless of the diagnosis or stage of disease. It can be provided alongside curative treatment and is appropriate for anyone with a chronic, progressive, or life-limiting illness.
Core Goals of Palliative Care:
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Manage symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, fatigue, and nausea
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Provide emotional and psychological support to patients and families
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Help with complex decision-making and care planning
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Align medical treatments with the patient's values and goals
Whether a patient is receiving treatment for cancer, heart failure, COPD, dementia, or another condition, Supportive Medicine steps in to help patients live as well as possible for as long as possible.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice is a type of specialized care for people in the final phase of a terminal illness, when curative treatments are no longer being pursued and the focus shifts entirely to comfort. Hospice is typically available to individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less, and care is provided wherever the patient calls home—whether that’s a private residence, nursing facility, or hospice center.
Key Aspects of Hospice Care:
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Comfort-focused medical care
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Emotional, spiritual, and bereavement support for families
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24/7 availability of hospice teams
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Covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurers
Have Questions About Palliative Care? Contact Us.
Get in touch with our patient care team