Palliative Care Clinic

Common Questions About Palliative Care

• Is palliative care the same as hospice care?

  It’s a common misunderstanding that palliative care is the same as hospice. Palliative care specialists see patients in clinics, and patients typically continue to get treatment for other medical conditions. Hospice is mainly delivered to patients at home who are too sick to get other treatment and/or close to the end of life.

• Do I need palliative care because I am dying?

  No, being referred to palliative care does not mean you are dying. It means your doctor or clinical team feels you would benefit from extra support.

• Does palliative care mean my doctor is giving up on me?

  No, it means your doctor cares greatly and wants to provide you and your family with additional support. Palliative care does not mean you must stop any other medical treatments. Evidence has shown that palliative care, when delivered alongside care directed at a patient’s underlying illness, can improve quality of life, reduce symptoms, improve patient and caregiver satisfaction, and increase survival. In brief, palliative care is about living better and possibly longer.

• Will palliative care prescribe pain medications?

  The palliative care physician will evaluate your pain and work with your primary or referring physician on a care plan for your symptoms. The doctor sometimes prescribes medications for symptoms.