Being faced with a serious, chronic, or life limiting illness can affect you or your loved one in many ways. St. Nicholas Hospital is pleased to offer a Palliative Care Program that can assist you or your loved one in dealing with a serious, chronic, or life limiting illness by:

• Addressing your unique symptom management needs.
• Focusing on improving your quality of life.
• Managing your symptoms to keep you at home, resulting in fewer hospital visits.

The philosophy of palliative care is to focus on quality of life issues, symptom management, communication, and emotional and spiritual wellness while continuing some form of therapy for the chronic illness itself. Treatment decisions are made in the context of maximizing quality of life while understanding that the ultimate disease outcome may not change.

The Palliative Care Team, an interdisciplinary group of healthcare professionals, works with the patient's primary care physician to establish a plan of care based on the patient's individual needs. The patient and family are always a part of the care planning process through regular scheduled family meetings.

Palliative Care does not replace active treatment of your disease nor is it hospice. Palliative Care is beneficial at any stage of illness.

Palliative Care is a proven means to meet the needs of those who are suffering from serious, chronic or life limiting illness. Some of the ways that Palliative Care can meet your needs include:

Treatment of complex symptoms including but not limited to:

• Pain
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Depression

Palliative Care also:

• Facilitates communication between the patient, family members, and staff about treatment.
• Provides spiritual and emotional support to patients and families.
• Addresses concerns as the patient's condition changes.
• Assists with hospital discharge and continuation of Palliative Care Services in the home setting.

Who Could Benefit from Palliative Care?

• Those with serious, chronic or life limiting illness that are having difficulty
  with symptom management.
• Those experiencing recurrent hospital admissions.
• Those with changing care goals.

Your physician or Hospital staff may suggest Palliative Care for you. You may also inquire about it yourself and a staff member will meet with you to discuss your questions and determine if you or your loved one qualify for Palliative Care.

920-459-4688

Brochure Download
Palliative Care Services Brochure (PDF)

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