Palliative Medicine...You Need to Know if You Have a Serious Illness

This past summer my awesome niece finished her Fellowship in Palliative Medicine and accepted a great leadership position.  This jarred me into doing a bit of research to share with you.

Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Here is a great resource article from AARP:  You have to request Palliative Care at the hospital...but keep in mind that it is not available everywhere and also that there is a shortage of Doctors for this great, new emerging field.

https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2018/palliative-care-hospital-health-team.html

And another form Harvard Magazine...

https://harvardmagazine.com/2015/03/from-specialty-to-shortage

Poor health is stressful and hard, but help is here...

Note: If you are suffering with pain...stay tuned to a great Blog next month with first hand relief results from me...very excited to share.