Palliative Care
Palliative Care
Palliative care focuses on aggressively managing symptoms of chronic illnesses
while also attending to the psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient
and those who care for them.
Palliative care is comprehensive treatment of the discomfort, symptoms
and stress of serious illness. It does not replace your primary treatment;
palliative care works together with the primary treatment you are receiving.
The purpose of palliative care is to address distressing symptoms such
as pain, breathing difficulties or nausea, among others. Receiving palliative
care does not necessarily mean you are at end of life. The goal is to
prevent and ease suffering and improve your quality of life.
How Palliative Care Can Help
At Mary Washington Hospital, we have a dedicated Palliative Medicine department
with a skilled compassionate team of healthcare professionals trained
in this special area of medicine.
Palliative care strives to provide you with:
- Expert treatment of any symptom related to serious illness.
- Open discussion about treatment choices, including treatment for your disease
and management of your symptoms.
- Coordination of your care with all of your health care providers.
- Emotional support for you and your family.
Palliative Medicine Program
The Palliative Medicine program at MaryWashingtonHospital consists of a
consultation service which can be provided throughout the hospital. Patients
and physicians may use the Palliative Medicine team’s services for
patients anywhere in the Hospital or may ask for a transfer to the palliative
care unit.
Our interdisciplinary team of health care professionals is available to
support patients and families, providing a complete approach to care;
a team approach to patient-centered care.
Palliative care is provided by a team of specialists that include:
- Nationally certified Palliative care Doctors
- Nationally certified Palliative care Nurse Practitioner
- Palliative Social Worker, Licensed Eligible
- Board Certified Healthcare Chaplain
- Palliative Care Nurses
“It’s what we do”
- Family meetings to discuss next steps
- Inpatient consultation
- Translate medical jargon in to “plain talk”
- Symptom management
- Spiritual counseling
- Emotional counseling
- Educational to patients, families, community, and staff
How do you know if you need Palliative care?
Many adults and children living with illnesses such as cancer, heart disease,
lung disease, kidney failure, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, dementia, and among
others, experience physical symptoms and emotional distress related to
their diseases. Sometimes these symptoms are related to the medical treatments
they are receiving.
You may want to consider palliative care if you or your loved one:
- Suffers from pain or other symptoms due to ANY serious illness.
- Experiences physical or emotional pain that is NOT under control.
- Need help understanding your situation and coordinating your care.
Start palliative care as soon as you need it.
It’s never too early to start palliative care. In fact, palliative
care can be provided at the same time as other treatments at any stage
of the disease.
Palliative Medicine Unit
Comfortable and spacious rooms welcome our patients, their loved ones and
friends. Patients may also partake of other special activities when permitted:
- No restricted visiting hours
- Pet therapy
- Private palliative lounge for families who need quiet time
- Coffee bar (coming soon)
- Wireless internet access
The following are available via
Mary Washington Hospice:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Massage therapy, as ordered by the physician
Insurance pays for palliative care
Most insurance plans cover all or part of palliative care treatment you
receive in the hospital, just as they would other services. Medicare and
Medicaid also typically cover palliative care. If you have concerns about
the cost of palliative treatment, the Social Worker from the palliative
care team can help you.
Giving
Providing care for a seriously ill person is an enormous job, whether at
home or in the hospital. In addition to the emotional toll that it can
have on a family, the financial impact can be a hardship. Mary Washington
Healthcare often cares for Patients that do not have insurance at all
or do not have the ability to pay. By making a donation to the Palliative
Care Medicine Unit, you are giving a living memorial to ensure caring
support will always be available to aid persons with life-limiting illnesses
regardless of their ability to pay. Your gift will help trained medical
staff, counselors, chaplains, dieticians, and volunteers to provide specialized
care with a human touch for those at a very difficult time in their life.
Please take a moment right now to send in your gift of $35, $55, $100
or whatever you can give to Mary Washington Hospital Foundation to benefit
the Palliative Medicine Unit. Your entire gift will enable the Palliative
Medicine Team to provide compassionate, high quality care to those in
need, regardless of their ability to pay.
Click here to donate online..
How can I get more information?
Call:
540.741.4400
Write:
MaryWashingtonHospital
Palliative Medicine
1001 Sam Perry Blvd.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401