Selecting a Palliative Care Provider

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness, are having difficulty managing symptoms, or have had multiple hospitalizations or emergency room visits, palliative care may make your life and that of your family much easier. A more in-depth overview of palliative care and the support it can provide can be found here. 

If you are considering palliative care, the following questions that may help you identify a provider: 

Where will the care be provided? 

Palliative care can be provided in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient palliative care clinics, or at home. Many hospitals have palliative care programs, which may require driving to the hospital for appointments. 

What services do you provide? What will you provide that’s different from the care I am currently receiving?

The palliative care team and the services that are provided will vary depending on where the services are being received.  For example, an organization providing services in your home will probably offer less services than a hospital-based provider. Regardless of the provider you select, all good palliative care programs should have teams made up of different types of professionals such as physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, dieticians, and pharmacists.  

You want to understand how the team will work with you and your family to support your needs. 

How will you work with my current healthcare providers? 

When you receive palliative care, you do not give up your relationship with your current healthcare providers. Find out how the palliative care team will work with your existing medical team. How will they provide updates? 

---

Accessing Palliative Care

Talk with your doctor about palliative care and ask for recommendations or a referral.  

Another way to find a provider is through GetPalliativeCare.org, which has a provider directory.