Palliative Services
Mary Washington Healthcare: Here for You.
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. Instead of replacing your primary source
of treatment, palliative care supplements your primary care.
Purpose of Palliative Services
Receiving palliative care does not necessarily mean you are at end of life.
The goal of palliative care is the prevention of suffering and the improvement
of your quality of life. At Mary Washington Hospital, we have a dedicated
Palliative Medicine department with a skilled 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 at Mary Washington Hospital
The Palliative Medicine program at Mary Washington Hospital 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 by providing 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
Our team of staff meet with the family members involved to discuss the
patient’s treatment plan and what the next steps are. They are available
for inpatient consultation, translating medical jargon, managing symptoms,
counseling patients spiritually and emotionally, and more. We provide
educational resources to patients, their families, and their communities.
How do you know if you need Palliative care?
Many adults and children live with severe illnesses that cause them to
experience great levels of emotional distress and painful symptoms. Sometimes
these symptoms are related to the medical treatments they are receiving.
Palliative care should be discussed if you or your loved one:
- Suffer from painful symptoms caused by any serious illness
- Experience uncontrollable pain, whether physically or emotionally
- Need help in coordinating care and understanding your situation
Palliative care can be started at any point of treatment. In fact, palliative
care can be provided at the same time as other treatments at any stage
of the disease.
Insurance & Palliative Care
Palliative care treatment is covered by most insurance plans, including
Medicaid and Medicare. If you have concerns about the cost of palliative
treatment, the Social Worker from the palliative care team can help you.
Giving to Mary Washington Palliative Care
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.
Click here to donate online.
Call (540) 741-4400 for more information.