Palliative Care

Palliative Care is not hospice, rather it is an approach to care providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious, often chronic, serious and complex illness.

What is palliative care?

Medical Speciality for Individualized Care

Palliative care is a medical specialty designed to provide individualized care for patients with serious and end-stage illnesses. Some common illnesses treated by our Palliative Care Team include Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of Dementia, Cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Heart Failure, Liver or Kidney Failure, COPD, and many others.

Provides Comfort and Support

Palliative care provides an extra layer of comfort and support for patients with many types of serious illness who suffer from symptoms of their disease or seeking advance care planning. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Pain Management

Our palliative care team works closely with a patient’s existing care team to help manage symptoms such as pain, nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, fatigue, loss of appetite and weakness.

Care Coordination & Transition Management

Palliative care assists patients and families with care coordination and transition management as well as medication reconciliation and management.

Open Communication About Patient Goals

Palliative care includes in-depth communication about patient’s goals, concerns, and treatment options with other healthcare providers. Once we learn what is most important to a patient, we can match treatment plans with personal goals and values. Advance care planning and facilitation of these discussions is important.

Flexible Settings

Palliative Care is provided in a variety of settings including – a private home, nursing center, or assisted living community.

How is palliative care different from hospice care?

Palliative care is also known as supportive care. It is similar to hospice care in that it focuses on relief of suffering and symptom management. However, palliative care is available at any time during a serious illness and is beneficial when provided along with curative treatments.

Is Palliative Care covered under insurance?

Payment for Palliative Care is the same as any other medical provider coverage provided by your insurance. Palliative Care is a consultative specialist and is considered the same as if your primary care physician recommends any specialist. As with any specialist your provider refers you to, your insurance policy will outline co-payments and any other financial obligations you will be responsible for during your consultation. Upstate Palliative Care will coordinate with the insurance ahead of time to determine any co-pays or fees.

Goals of Palliative Care

For more information on Upstate Palliative Care, please call 864-328-1945.

Help you better understand your medical condition, treatment options and your care choices.

Provide expert symptom management and reduce symptom distress.

Assist patients and family in managing complex illnesses and navigating the healthcare system.

Improve your ability to go through medical treatments by managing side effects related to these therapies.

Coordination and communication of care plans among all providers and across all settings.

Reduce and/or prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

Optimize quality of life for you and your family

Devote time to intensive family meetings and allow extra time for communication.

Skilled communication about what to expect in the future in order to ensure that care is matched with goals and priorities.