Palliative Care for Patients Living With Serious Illness

Make no mistake – palliative care can provide support throughout the course of a serious illness when aggressive therapy is still being pursued.   

“Anyone facing a serious illness can benefit from palliative care. We work as a team to ensure that the patient has their physical, emotional and spiritual needs met. We support not only the patient, but the family along their health journey.” says Allison Jordan, MD, palliative care Medical Director. “The best time to request palliative care is at the time of diagnosis – this maximizes the opportunity for patients to receive the full benefit of our services.”

What you should know about palliative care:

Palliative care is the medical specialty focused on relief of the pain, stress, and other debilitating symptoms of serious illness.

Working in partnership with the patient’s primary care physician and specialists, the palliative care team is comprised of experts including a physician, nurse, social worker, and chaplain to provide:

• Expert treatment of pain and other symptoms
• Assistance with complex decision making
• Alignment of the treatment plan with the patient’s goals and values
• Communication between the patient/family and the healthcare team
• Assistance with navigating the health care system
• Emotional and spiritual support for the patient and family
• Completion of advance directives

For more information, call the Christian Hospital Palliative Care office at 314.653.5737.