"The goal of palliative care is to maximize quality
of life for patients living with a serious or life-threatening
illness. A patient can benefit from palliative care at any stage
of chronic illness, from the time the disease is diagnosed to its
final stages. It takes an entire team, including a doctor, nurse,
pharmacist, psychologist, social worker, and chaplain, to provide
palliative care. One important aspect of care is controlling the
patient's bothersome physical symptoms, such as pain, shortness of
breath, nausea, and fatigue. Careful use of medications often achieves
this goal. Another aspect is helping the patient and his or her family
plan for the future and establish goals for medical care."
Linda King, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
History
In June 2003, the schools of the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, in
collaboration with Family Hospice and Palliative Care, established the Institute to
Enhance Palliative Care. These scholars and health professionals from diverse fields
have joined together to improve care for people who are seriously ill and dying in
Western Pennsylvania. This unique collaboration of an academic research institution
and a community-based hospice and palliative care provider makes it possible to gain
greater understanding of the range of people's experience facing serious illness.
Mission
The mission of the Institute is to improve the access to and quality of palliative care in Western Pennsylvania
by (1) educating healthcare providers regarding palliative care,
(2) conducting research into the most effective ways to provide palliative care, (3) raising public
awareness about the availability of palliative care, and (4) advancing public policies
that support excellent, high-quality care for people who are seriously ill.
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