Seriously-ill patients in the MedCentral Health System have another option for treatment called palliative care.
MedCentral medical oncologist Srividya Viswanathan , M.D., says palliative care is different than hospice. It’s appropriate at any point in a serious illness unlike hospice which provides care just for those in the last few months of life.
She describes palliative care as a medical specialty that focuses on preventing and relieving unnecessary suffering by supporting the best possible quality of life for patients facing serious and/or life-threatening illness . Palliative care aims to manage the care of seriously-ill patients through treatment and constant communication.
At MedCentral Mansfield Hospital, inpatient consultations for palliative care began this week, focusing on the Intensive Care Unit. The model includes an inpatient palliative care unit for symptom management. Health system officials are looking at a possible outpatient palliative care clinic.
“Palliative care aims to relieve suffering in all stages of disease and it’s not limited to end of life care,” says Dr.Viswanathan. “Care is provided at the same time as curative or life-prolonging treatments.”