Most people are familiar with the idea of hospice, although at times they simply associate hospice care with death. What most do not realize is palliative care is a part of hospice care and is aimed at quality of life.
The two terms can be used interchangeably and the care provided to patients who receive hospice or palliative care is to ease their stress and enable the best possible quality of life and support them and their families through the process of death.
Dr. Pierre El Hachem (Dr. Pierre), University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center hospitalist and palliative care provider, talks about how palliative care is a part of hospice care and how both are aimed to support patients and caregivers through the process of terminal illness.
What exactly is palliative care?
Dr. Pierre said, “It is a specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses . It is focused on providing patients with relief of symptoms, pain, and stress, with a goal of improving quality of life for both patient and the caregivers.”
Palliative care providers also specialize in advanced care planning discussions like that of code status and overall healthcare wishes. Dr. Pierre has these types of conversations with both patient and their families in order to develop personalized care plans that execute the desires and goals of the patient.
Is palliative care the same as hospice?
“Hospice is palliative care services provided to an individual with a life-threatening illness and whose life expectancy is six months or less. At this stage of the disease, patients have elected not to pursue any further investigation or disease directed therapy and to let nature take its course,” Dr. Pierre explains.
“While the palliative care services are usually limited to one provider, hospice care compromises an interdisciplinary team that is led by a physician and includes nurses, aides, chaplains, social workers, volunteers, and music therapists if available," he said.
What qualifies a patient for palliative care?
Dr. Pierre said; “Patients with an advanced life-threatening illness that is considered to be irreversible, progressive and incurable. In our present time such diseases can be defined as one of the following: cancer, congestive heart failure, liver failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular diseases like strokes, dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Again, all these diseases have to be in advanced stages regardless of life expectancy.”
Why is palliative care important?
“Palliative care is important because it approaches the patient as a whole and not just from the perspective of one medical illness or one organ failure. It recognizes that people with serious illnesses and their caregivers have needs beyond medical ones and that addressing those needs can improve physical and emotional functioning as well as provide peace and comfort," Dr. Pierre said. "Because such interventions control distressing symptoms and provide psychological support, they may prolong the patient's life and improve its quality; even for those with advanced life-threatening illnesses.”
Are palliative care services for the hospital or at home?
Dr. Pierre said palliative care services may be provided in any care setting − home, skilled nursing facility, long-term care facility, assisted living facility, hospital, group home, and clinic.
How to 'sign up' for palliative care
“Every patient has the right to ask for and receive palliative care services. Patients can start by reaching out to their primary care physicians and request a referral to be made," Dr. Pierre. "They can also reach out to their insurances and inquire about any availability of palliative care services and providers in the area they live in. And with the advancement of Internet search options, they themselves or their caregivers can do the search and reach out directly to the provider asking for the services and without even the need for a referral to be made.”
Talk with a primary care provider about when palliative care could be right for you or a family member. Dr. Pierre explains that providers in the Ashland area are supportive of palliative care and are advocates for their patients in receiving this care when it is appropriate.
If you do not have a provider, call 419-289-0491 or visit uhhospitals.org.
Christina Vanderpool, RN, BSN, is the community outreach nurse at UH Samaritan.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: UH Samaritan doctor explains benefits of seeking hospice, palliative care at end of life
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