Palliative care nurse practitioners are available to assist primary care physicians and other health care providers with addressing the complex pain and symptom management of patients with chronic, progressive, life-limiting illness.

Palliative care physicians and nurse practitioners are skilled in helping patients and their families explore difficult issues such as advance directives, end-of-life preferences, and treatment issues affecting quality of life. Appropriate psychosocial and spiritual support systems are utilized to enhance comfort when needed.

Consultation with Palliative Care can provide assistance with:

• Aggressive management for complex pain and symptoms associated with life-limiting illness.
• Comprehensive assessment and treatment recommendations for palliative care recommendations for children and adults in any setting.
• Diagnosis and prognosis discussions, especially when prognosis may be unclear.
• Discussions with patients and their families related to goals of care.
• Exploration of sensitive issues such as advance care, aggressive treatment, and end-of-life preferences.
• Holistic interventions to provide emotional, spiritual and physical relief from pain and discomfort.