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Palliative Care
Specialized medical care during serious, life-limiting illness
Patient-Centered Palliative Care During Your Time of Need
If you or a loved one is living with a serious illness, you may benefit from Palliative Care services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). Our team provides comprehensive and coordinated care, addressing physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs for patients on inpatient basis while hospitalized at BIDMC and on outpatient basis in our clinic.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care dedicated to promoting the best quality of life for people with serious illness. Its goals are to improve symptoms and difficulties related to illness or its treatments, and to provide compassionate care for patients and their loved ones.
Conditions We Support
Palliative care has mental, physical, and emotional benefits for patients who live with serious, life-limiting illnesses, including the following:
- Kidney conditions, including end-stage renal disease
- Liver disease including cirrhosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Severe lung 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.
Understanding Palliative vs. Hospice Care
Palliative care can help at any point in a serious, life-limiting illness, and it can be provided at the same time as curative and life-prolonging treatment. Palliative care is available both during hospitalization and outpatient appointments.
Hospice care is a specialized type of palliative care focused on helping one live the rest of their life in the way that matters most to them. Hospice care is focused on improving quality of life and maintaining dignity during the time they have remaining.
More About Palliative Care
Services & Consultations
The palliative care team may offer one or more of the following services:
- Symptom management related to serious illness or malignancy, including but not limited to pain, nausea, depression, delirium, and shortness of breath
- Assistance with treatment choices and decisions
- Helping patients and families reflect on what is most important to them and aligning their treatment with their priorities
- Help navigating the health care system and planning for care after the hospital
Consultations
If you feel that you or a loved one could benefit from a consultation, please speak to your medical team. Anyone with a serious illness can receive palliative care.
Inpatient consultation services are available from Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. We are also available on weekends to help hospital teams manage urgent symptoms.
Outpatient clinic appointments are available on Tuesdays, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm and Wednesdays, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. For patients receiving cancer care at BIDMC, we can likely offer additional appointments around your ongoing treatments. Please inquire with your care team.
Any member of your care team can provide palliative care, including your primary care provider. Your primary care provider can also work with the specialty palliative care team.
Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover palliative care services. For specific information about your coverage, contact your insurance plan.
Division of General Medicine
The Division of General Medicine offers expert patient care, scientific research programs, and education and training opportunities.
