Services

Palliative Care Services

A service dedicated to patients and families facing a serious or life-threatening illness.

The Palliative Care Services program at Kaweah Delta Health Care District is a team of professionals that provides care and support to patients and families facing a serious or life-threatening illness. Palliative care services offers assistance of a palliative medicine physician, nurse, social worker and chaplain. Palliative care services are available to both inpatients and patient as home or in a nursing home.

What is palliative care?
Palliative care provides expertise in treating the pain and other symptoms of serious and life-threatening illnesses and in supporting the patient and family in considering treatment options and goals of care. Palliative care helps to assure comfort and help the patient remain as active as possible.

What services are available?
Services vary depending on individual patient and family preferences:

Treatment to relieve pain and other symptoms
Individual and family counseling
Emotional and spiritual support
Help in planning for care after the hospital
Assistance with treatment choices and decisions
Bereavement support and referral

Who can receive services?
Our program welcomes patients and family members who are facing serious or life-threatening illness, regardless of diagnosis or ability to pay. Services are provided to inpatients and outpatients.

How can patients receive services?

Consider requesting palliative care if you or a loved one have a life-threatening illness and pain that is difficult to manage, other symptoms, or if you would like assistance with advance directives or supportive counseling.

Will the patient’s physicians continue to be involved?

Yes. The team provides consultation to the patient’s regular physician who will continue to direct the patient’s care.

How does palliative care differ from hospice care?

Palliative care is different from hospice in that palliative care is often appropriate early in the course of an illness, at the same time as curative therapy. Hospice is appropriate after curative therapy is no longer an option.

End of life care
When an illness as progressed to an advanced stage, treatment to relieve pain and other symptoms continues. The palliative care team will assist with this transition and remain closely involved. Many patients choose hospice care at this time. The goal is to help the patient live life to the fullest with quality and dignity.