Palliative Care
Comfort and support for patients and their families
What is Palliative Care?
The Palliative (pal-ee-uh-tiv) Care team at Christian Hospital provides support to people who have a serious illness. Our team includes a doctor, nurses, social worker and a chaplain to treat the whole person: body, mind and spirit. Our goal is to make sure the person has comfort, dignity and quality of life. All other medical treatments can continue while the person gets Palliative Care.
How can Palliative Care help my family and me?
We will take the time to get to know you as a person and how you cope with your illness. We’ll be with you as you face some of life’s toughest challenges. Our expert care includes:
- Relief of pain and other symptoms including nausea, fatigue, trouble breathing and feeling depressed, worried or stressed
- Help relieve stress and anxiety related to illness
- Help and support in making tough medical choices
- Respect for individual values and personal choices
- Help you stay as comfortable and as active as possible
- Help to talk to your doctors and make sure they work together to plan your care
- Find services to support you and your family after leaving the hospital
How do I know if this is right for me or a member of my family?
Palliative Care can help if you or your loved one:
- Has cancer, heart failure, liver, lung or kidney problems with many hospital visits in the last year
- Has dementia and a steady loss of function and needs help with daily care
- Has a serious illness with pain, trouble breathing and other symptoms that cause distress
- Feels helpless or confused by the health care system and treatment
- Has tough medical choices to make and wants help thinking them through
How can I get Palliative Care?
Talk to the doctor in charge of your hospital care to see if this would help you.
Will my doctor still be in charge of my care?
Yes, your doctor will still be in charge of your care. The Palliative Care team works closely with all of the other doctors treating you. They’ll make sure you get the best possible care that respects your values and wishes.
Is Palliative Care the same as hospice?
No. Usually, people in hospice decide to stop getting treatments that are designed to cure them. Palliative Care, however, can be given at any time during an illness and other treatment can be continued. In fact, the sooner Palliative Care becomes part of a patient’s treatment, the more helpful it can be.
Christian Hospital and Northwest HealthCare, members of BJC HealthCare, provide world-class medical care to the communities of North County, Greater St. Louis County and Southern Illinois.