What is palliative care?
Palliative care is health care for individuals of any age who have
a chronic, life-limiting illness. The goal of palliative care is
to ease pain and symptoms and provide support and information to
patients and their loved ones. The Palliative Care team works with
a patient’s physician to determine the best medical plan of
care. At this time, Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter's
Palliative Care team serves patients in Wilmington at the two
hospitals, in contracted nursing homes, and even in some patients'
homes. Plans are to develop
programs in additional hospitals and nursing homes throughout the
organization's five-county service area.
What is the focus of palliative care?
Palliative care addresses the patient’s medical, emotional
and spiritual needs. It offers support to patients and their caregivers.
Palliative care encourages discussion between patients, families
and health care professionals in determining the patient’s
goals and medical plan of care. As a patient’s disease progresses,
the palliative care team adjusts its support services to the patient
and family as their needs change. Palliative care makes a better
quality of life possible for patients and their loved ones by providing
the best possible quality of care.
Who can receive palliative care?
Patients with chronic, long-term or life-limiting illnesses are
appropriate for palliative care. Palliative care is available to
individuals to help with pain management, relief of suffering and
education on their disease progression and prognosis. Family members
are included in the plan of care, and the palliative care team provides
support and information to them as well as the patient.
Who are the Palliative Care team members?
The Palliative Care team is an interdisciplinary group of professionals
who provide physical, emotional and spiritual care to patients as
needed to assist the patient’s physician. The Palliative
Care
team members physicians, advanced practice nurses, licensed clinical
social workers, chaplains, physical and occupational therapists,
complementary therapists (healing arts therapists can include music,
art and massage therapists) and other team members as needed.
Who can refer a patient to the palliative care team?
Anyone can call the Palliative Care team at 910.332.0279 or 888.521.4184
for information or to make a referral to receive palliative care.
The Palliative Care physician and advanced practice nurse will meet
with the patient first. They will determine the goals of care with
the patient and family and the patient’s physician and decide
which other team members are needed.
How are palliative care services billed?
Medicare and most private insurance companies can be billed for
palliative care consultations.
Does the program have other funding sources?
The palliative care program began in January 2002 as a collaboration
between Lower Cape Fear Hospice and New Hanover Regional Medical
Center. The medical center was awarded a one-year, $100,000 grant
from The Duke Endowment to provide palliative care to patients and
their families through the palliative care team. The grant has been
extended for two years to total
$225,000 in funding.
How can the Palliative Care team help?
The Palliative Care team can be called to:
• Assist with pain and symptom management
• Assist with relief of suffering
• Discuss the course of disease and goals of care
• Assist attending physician, patient or family with clarification
of development of palliative plan of care
• Assist in establishing the best possible quality of care
as determined by patient and family
• Offer emotional support to patient and family, including
anticipatory grief and bereavement counseling
• Discuss and complete documentation of advance directives
• Discuss forgoing specific treatment and/or diagnostic treatments
• Facilitate transition to alternate care settings, such as
home, nursing home, hospice when appropriate
How can I learn more about palliative care?
An excellent resource is the Center to Advance Palliative Care's site, getpalliativecare.
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