Patient Guide

Palliative Care Consultation Service

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What is Palliative Care? A medical specialty focused on the care of patients diagnosed with chronic, life limiting illness, with equal attention to their social, emotional, and spiritual well being. The goal is to ease pain and suffering and to help patients and their families achieve the highest quality of life. Palliative Care can be complimentary to other therapies that are available and appropriate to the care of the patient. How does a patient gain access to Palliative Care? You can ask your physician for a consultation on behalf of your loved one or yourself. A referral can also be recommended by physicians, nurses, social workers, case managers, or other staff members. A member of the Palliative Care team will work closely with both the patient and their family to address specific needs and goals of care. Forfurtherinformation,pleasefeelfreetocontact the Palliative Care Liaison at 661.369.6016.

Is Palliative Care right for me? Palliative care may be right for you or a loved one that is suffering from pain or symptoms due to an advanced or chronic illness such as: • Cancer • Advanced Heart Disease • Lung and Respiratory Disease • End stage liver disease • Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease • Kidney Failure • AIDS/HIV • ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) • MS (Multiple Sclerosis) • Stroke with loss of over 50% of functional ability

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