NorthBay's inpatient palliative care program uses a comprehensive approach to care for patients with serious illnesses. The goal is to relieve pain and other distressing physical symptoms and to optimize the quality of life for patients and families by addressing emotional, spiritual and social needs.
Palliative care is active medical care that relieves or soothes the symptoms of a disease, without primarily aiming to cure. Care is planned to meet the patient's unique goals. Palliative care can be provided concurrently with life-prolonging, curative treatment, or as the main focus of care for someone with a life-limiting illness while in the hospital.
Our team consists of a case manager, a social worker, and nurse practitioners/physicians who will work with your primary hospital provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Palliative care services are covered by most insurers including Medicare.
If you’re coping with a serious, life-threatening illness that is limiting your ability to function on a daily basis or preventing you from doing the things you enjoy, a consultation regarding palliative care may help enhance your quality of life. In addition to better symptom management, benefits may include a better understanding of your illness and its progression, and may help you avoid frequent, costly hospital stays and emergency room visits.
The inpatient palliative care team helps patients and families dealing with a serious illness manage distressing symptoms such as:
- Chronic, uncontrolled pain
- Nausea and other digestive disorders
- Shortness of breath
- Anxiety, depression or delirium
- Weakness or fatigue
The inpatient palliative care team is trained and skilled in providing additional assistance including:
- Helping patients and families establish health care goals, and developing an appropriate treatment program designed to meet those goals.
- Coordinating care from different health care providers and easing transitions from hospital to home, rehabilitation or assisted care.
- Helping patients and families sort through complex treatment options in order to make informed medical decisions.
- Spiritual support and counseling.
- Identifying appropriate community resources.
- Advanced care planning.
Talk to your doctor about a consultation with NorthBay Health Palliative Care Service. Your primary care doctor or attending hospital physician can make arrangements.
Palliative care can be initiated at any stage of a serious chronic or progressive illness. Unlike hospice care, palliative care is not limited to those considered to be terminally ill.
A multidisciplinary team is trained and dedicated to meeting your unique needs. These health care professionals work closely with your physicians to monitor your condition and adjust care and treatment to meet your individual goals.