By Grant Smith, MD, Stanford Palliative Care
July 2020 | 2020 Summer Newsletter
It’s More Than You Think
Whether it’s heard from the media, friends, or even healthcare providers, there are many myths and misconceptions about palliative care. Many people confuse palliative care with hospice or think that palliative care means end-of-life care. It’s important to know palliative care is a lot more than what you may think.
It’s About Quality of Life
Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uhtiv) is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing
relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Palliative care is provided by a trained team of doctors, nurses, and specialists who work together with the patient’s various doctors to provide an extra layer of support.
It’s Appropriate at Any Age, Any Stage
Palliative care is appropriate at any age and during any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment. During a typical day in my clinic, I will see patients who are either newly diagnosed, getting treatments to cure their illness, and getting treatments that may not cure them but can help them live longer with fewer symptoms. Several studies have shown that the earlier palliative care is involved, the greater the benefits.
One of our patients commented, “I wish I had reached out to palliative care sooner in my diagnosis, but at least I know they are still available for assistance after my treatment ends.”
It’s More Than Hospice
Many people confuse palliative care with hospice. Hospice refers to a philosophy of care that prioritizes comfort over prolonging life or seeking a cure. Hospice is typically for people who are estimated to live for six months or less. While all hospice is palliative care, not all palliative care is hospice.
It’s About Treating the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Palliative care teams know that living with a serious illness can cause uncomfortable physical symptoms, emotional, and spiritual distress. Because of this, palliative care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains to provide whole-person care.
One patient described her experience working with our team and shared, “Everyone made me feel at ease and I felt supported, that my concerns were heard and addressed with a good care plan.”
It’s About Loving People
“The practice of medicine is really about loving people,” said Dr. Josh Biddle, Director of Outpatient Palliative Care at Marin General Hospital. While some healthcare providers might dismiss this notion as an impractical sentiment in the world of fast-paced, technology-driven, and modern medicine; many of my palliative care colleagues and I see this statement as a vision we try to embody while working with patients and their families.
How to Get Palliative Care
If either you, a family member, or client is interested in palliative care, ask your primary care doctor or specialist for a referral or visit getpalliativecare.org to find a palliative care team near you. You can also find more information on the Palliative Care page of the Stanford Health Care website: med.stanford.edu/palliative-care.
It’s More Than You Think
Whether it’s heard from the media, friends, or even healthcare providers, there are many myths and misconceptions about palliative care. Many people confuse palliative care with hospice or think that palliative care means end-of-life care. It’s important to know palliative care is a lot more than what you may think.
It’s About Quality of Life
Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uhtiv) is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Palliative care is provided by a trained team of doctors, nurses, and specialists who work together with the patient’s various doctors to provide an extra layer of support.
It’s Appropriate at Any Age, Any Stage
Palliative care is appropriate at any age and during any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment. During a typical day in my clinic, I will see patients who are either newly diagnosed, getting treatments to cure their illness, and getting treatments that may not cure them but can help them live longer with fewer symptoms. Several studies have shown that the earlier palliative care is involved, the greater the benefits.
One of our patients commented, “I wish I had reached out to palliative care sooner in my diagnosis, but at least I know they are still available for assistance after my treatment ends.”
It’s More Than Hospice
Many people confuse palliative care with hospice. Hospice refers to a philosophy of care that prioritizes comfort over prolonging life or seeking a cure. Hospice is typically for people who are estimated to live for six months or less. While all hospice is palliative care, not all palliative care is hospice.
It’s About Treating the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Palliative care teams know that living with a serious illness can cause uncomfortable physical symptoms, emotional, and spiritual distress. Because of this, palliative care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains to provide whole-person care.
One patient described her experience working with our team and shared, “Everyone made me feel at ease and I felt supported, that my concerns were heard and addressed with a good care plan.”
It’s About Loving People
“The practice of medicine is really about loving people,” said Dr. Josh Biddle, Director of Outpatient Palliative Care at Marin General Hospital. While some healthcare providers might dismiss this notion as an impractical sentiment in the world of fast-paced, technology-driven, and modern medicine; many of my palliative care colleagues and I see this statement as a vision we try to embody while working with patients and their families.
How to Get Palliative Care
If either you, a family member, or client is interested in palliative care, ask your primary care doctor or specialist for a referral or visit getpalliativecare.org to find a palliative care team near you. You can also find more information on the Palliative Care page of the Stanford Health Care website: med.stanford.edu/palliative-care.