Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is a specialty that focuses on the relief of suffering at any stage of illness from diagnosis to return to good health or hospice entry.  Suffering has four components: physical, psychological, social and spiritual. The most common illnesses seen in a palliative medicine practice are heart disease, cancer and advanced respiratory diseases.

Dr. Kovner will help you with the physical symptoms and will direct you to providers who specialize in the emotional, social and spiritual aspects of suffering.

A unique aspect of Palliative Care is the involvement of the family and caregivers. When a loved one is suffering, we all suffer.

Ensures quality of life

Palliative care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Patients have a range of diseases and respond differently to treatment options. A key benefit of palliative care is that it customizes treatment to meet the individual needs of each patient.  Palliative care is provided in conjunction with your personal physician, advanced practice nurse or specialist.

Palliative care works to relieve symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. It helps patients gain the strength to carry on with daily life. It improves their ability to tolerate medical treatments. And it helps them better understand their choices for care. Overall, palliative care offers patients the best possible quality of life during their illness.

Palliative care benefits both patients and their families. Along with symptom management, communication and support for the family are the main goals. The team helps patients and families make medical decisions and choose treatments that are in line with their goals.

Different From Hospice

Palliative care is NOT the same as hospice care. Palliative care may be provided at any time during a person’s illness, even from the time of diagnosis. And, it may be given at the same time as curative treatment.

Hospice care always provides palliative care. However, it is focused on terminally ill patients-people who no longer seek curative treatments and who are expected to live for about six months or less.

Links

• World Health Organization
• Aging with Dignity
• Palliative Care
• California Coalition for Compassionate Care: Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment

Dr. Kovner is available for consultation in the office, in your home or in extended care and assisted living facilities. He will work with your current health care providers to increase your comfort and understanding of your illness.