For Patients and Families

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The goal of palliative care is to keep patients comfortable when cure is not possible. Palliative care is designed to relieve or reduce pain or discomfort, and takes into account physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The palliative care team provides support and comfort to these patients and families.

To contact us, please call 412-692-4834.

The Section on Palliative Care is a team of health care professionals who care for patients with life-limiting illnesses. The team has special training in managing pain and other symptoms and in helping patients and their families to talk about the difficult issues they face. We see patients in the hospital and work with many programs, such as home care, hospice, and nursing homes, to support patients after they leave the hospital. We will also support and comfort the patient's family while they are caring for the patient and during their bereavement.

The Section on Palliative Care emphasizes family support and patient care and integrates inpatient services with outpatient and home-based programs.

For inpatients, consultations are available round-the-clock, 365 days a year. The patient is seen by a physician and nurse practitioner from the program within 24 hours of the consultation request. Members of the team also meet with the family as soon as possible after the consultation request is received to determine the family's views of their loved one's illness and prognosis; to understand their medical, psychosocial, spiritual, and financial concerns; and to assess their support systems.

Referrals may then be made for the patient and/or family members to other appropriate members of the palliative care team, including a psychologist, doctor of pharmacy with special expertise in pain management, wound care nurse, spiritual counselor, or social worker.

These recommendations are shared with the patient's referring physician as well as the nursing staff and other health care providers. Members of the palliative care team see the patient daily during hospitalization. Upon discharge, the team discusses the ongoing plan of care with the hospice caring for the patient at home, home care provider, or nursing home to which the patient is discharged.

The program provides four grief and bereavement services:

• follow-up program for patients who are still alive
• bereavement program for families of patients who have died
• family support program for families of critically ill patients
• program for health care providers who are grieving over patient deaths

Outpatient Services

Located in the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the Section on Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic provides coordinated palliative care services in an outpatient setting. The clinic is designed for those who are not yet hospitalized for their illness and for recently hospitalized patients.

The patients receive a comprehensive evaluation by a physician-led team. The team then develops a treatment plan that may include dealing with symptoms such as pain, nausea, and anxiety; planning for home care and hospice; and coping with psychological and spiritual concerns. The team works with the patient and family, as well as with the patient's primary health care providers, to help maintain the highest quality of life for the longest possible time.

Call 412-692-4724 for an appointment at the Cancer Pain and Palliative Care Clinic at Hillman Cancer Center.