Hospice and Palliative Care are part of a continuum of care which professionals in the specialty would prefer to deliver in a seamless manner according to need, but our present healthcare system makes distinctions. Hospice is palliative care delivered to
Hospice and Palliative Care are part of a continuum of care which professionals in the specialty would prefer to deliver in a seamless manner according to need, but our present healthcare system makes distinctions.
Hospice is palliative care delivered to patients dealing with their final and incurable illness. Palliative care is always a comprehensive care that addresses the patient’s diagnosis and treatment, but also attempts to reduce all symptoms associated with the disease and it’s treatment, including the anxiety of learning about the diagnosis, as well as psychological, emotional, and spiritual suffering.
All hospice care is palliative care. But not all palliative care is hospice care because palliative care also includes symptom weighted care for patients who may completely recover from their serious illness. The palliative care professional can help the patient in relation to a sometimes bewildering array of diagnostic and therapeutic options.
The palliative team (R.N., M.D. social worker and spiritual counselor) can help the family with decision making and help to coordinate the care that may involve a number of different providers. Palliative specialty certifications have now been developed for physicians, nurses, social workers, and spiritual counselors and we have staff with these certifications at Kauai Hospice and its Palliative Medicine Partners program.
Sometimes complicated illness occurs within a family where one of the siblings, spouse or other close relative is a doctor or nurse. In these cases, decision making or explaining may tend to fall primarily upon this person, who may in fact prefer to remain more neutral as an equal family member. The palliative professional can help to assure that the patient’s wishes get the high priority that they deserve and can, from time to time, hold family conferences to resolve difficult issues. We can also assist with the process of completing advanced directives (living wills) and P.O.L.S.T (physicians orders for life sustaining treatment).
For questions regarding the Kauai Insight Column, contact mailto:rweiner@kauaihospice.org
