Palliative Care Consultation Services

Specialized Care During Serious Illness

Palliative care is a branch of The Division of General Medicine aimed at improving the quality of life for patients living with serious and advanced illnesses. With the goal of addressing the physical symptoms and stress that can come with managing a long-term disease, palliative care practitioners also provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and families, helping them make difficult decisions and coordinate care.

Palliative care has been shown to have wide-ranging mental, physical, and emotional benefits for patients who suffer from an array of serious illnesses and conditions, including cancer, ALS, dementia, and heart failure. For the patient’s family, receiving palliative care support can reduce experiences of grief and post-traumatic stress. Overall, palliative care has been shown to improve satisfaction by pairing interventions with the needs and wishes of the patient, avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and ICU care, and has even been shown to extend life.

The Palliative Care team at BIDMC includes members of various disciplines: physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and interfaith chaplains. The team works with your doctors to give you an extra layer of support at any stage of your disease.

If you or a loved one has just been diagnosed with a serious illness, consider making an appointment with the Palliative Care team. We provide comprehensive and coordinated care for patients on an inpatient and outpatient basis.