What You Need to Know about Palliative Care
By R. Bruce Dalglish of Philadelphia
Palliative care is a type of healthcare that specializes in pain and symptom management. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. This is usually accomplished through an extensive cooperation of healthcare professionals from every field, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, social workers, etc.
Contrary to what many people believe, palliative care can be administered at any stage of a serious illness, and patients do not have to be terminally ill to receive palliative care. Unlike hospice care patients, palliative care patients can still receive treatment for their diseases. Rather, palliative care works in synergy with hospital-based care and focuses on helping patients manage their symptoms and provides support to their families.
Palliative care can be especially beneficial for patients suffering from severe symptoms associated with their condition. In addition to pain, many palliative care patients suffer from nausea, fatigue, delirium, dyspnea and other chronic symptoms. That’s why palliative care clinicians exercise a comprehensive approach to pain management, taking into account various aspects, including patients’ emotional, psychological and spiritual suffering.
Its comprehensive approach and attention to both psychological distress and physical symptoms make palliative care an important tool for improving the quality of life for patients and their families during the treatment period.
If you would like to consult with an All Caring Hospice expert, our staff is always available to help.
Telephone: 610.828.3455
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About the Author
A resident of Philadelphia, R. Bruce Dalglish has served as the Chairman and CEO of Alliance Hospice and All Caring Hospice since 2005. In this role, Bruce Dalglish oversees the development and strategic direction of both companies. From 2008 – 2013, Bruce Dalglish served on the Public Policy Committee of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
Disclaimer: All Caring Hospice blogs provide education information, not medical advice. Please consult with your medical providers when making end-of-life care decisions.
