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Palliative Care -- Palliative Medicine Service at Hennepin
612-873-4455
The goal of the Palliative Medicine Service at Hennepin County Medical Center is to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for patients with serious, progressive or terminal illness. Under the leadership of John Ely, MD, the service provides inpatient consultation, patient care, and educational services to both the patient and the patient’s family or caregivers.
The Journal of Palliative Medicine defines palliative care as comprehensive, interdisciplinary care that focuses primarily on improving the quality of life for patients living with a serious,
progressive, or terminal illness. Palliative care services provide
physical comfort and psychosocial support to both the patient
and the patient’s family. |
John Ely, MD |
WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE?
Palliative care is a medical specialty which concentrates on relieving pain and treating other symptoms of serious illness while focusing on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the individual.
WHO NEEDS PALLIATIVE CARE?
Palliative care can be especially helpful for people who:
- have a serious illness such as cancer, heart failure, lung disease, advanced liver or kidney problems, or dementia
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suffer from pain, nausea, constipation, fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety, or agitation
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have questions about how their serious illness affects the future
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want help with making complex medical decisions
WHO PROVIDES PALLIATIVE CARE?
The palliative care team is an inter-disciplinary team made up of specialized physicians and nurse practitioners, chaplain, social workers, and case managers. They collaborate with your primary healthcare providers to secure your physical comfort, emotional and psychological health, and social and spiritual needs.
HOW DO WE START PALLIATIVE CARE?
You, a family member, or any healthcare professional working with you can ask your physician to ask the Palliative Medicine Service at Hennepin County Medical Center to see you.
IS PALLIATIVE CARE THE SAME AS HOSPICE?
Palliative care is not hospice. While hospice shares some principles with palliative care, hospice is limited to those whose likely remaining life-span is six months or less. Hospice is appropriate when the individual has decided to no longer pursue curative treatments for their illness.
AM I GIVING UP IF I WANT PALLIATIVE CARE?
Palliative care does not take the place of treatments or therapies you are receiving to fight your illness. Rather, it can occur at the same time as all other appropriate medical treatments you and your primary healthcare providers have decided are right for you.
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