By Lisa Hageman For The Bulletin

MondayMar23,2020at6:34PM

Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals that can include nurses, doctors, social workers, clergy, and others who are focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, and in doing so, improving the quality of life for both the person with the illness and the people who care about them.

Part of the care provided by a palliative care service is discussing the medical facts as assessed by the medical team in language that is easily understood, answering questions about the medical plan of care and health care choices surrounding the plan of care, all while keeping the person experiencing the illness at the center.

During these goals of care discussions, the palliative care team assists with helping people with serious illnesses identify the person they would rely on to make medical decisions on their behalf if they were unable, and to talk through their goals and preferences as they relate to future heath care wishes.

Access to and connection with this type of care can be through your health care provider in the community or during an inpatient stay in the hospital.

In the event that you or a loved one are diagnosed with a serious illness, a palliative care team can help you to navigate the complex healthcare world, including walking with you as you seek treatments (like chemotherapy or dialysis) for your disease, and help manage symptoms and live as well as possible in a body thats not working well.

If a time comes that your medical team assesses that further treatment is not possible or becomes too risky, or the patient decides thatfurther treatment is not wanted and comfort and allowing for natural death is the goal of care, Hospice can become involved to support you as you face your end of life. Questions about how palliative care may help you or a loved one may be directed to the Backus Hospital Inpatient Palliative Care Service at 860-889-8331 ext. 6829.

Lisa Hageman is the manager of the Preventive Medicine Initiative at Backus Hospital.

Read more:
Healthy Living: Palliative care team treats seriously ill patients - Norwich Bulletin