Integrative Palliative Care - What You Need to Know

Welcome to today's important topic of palliative care.

Do you know what palliative care is, and the difference between palliative and hospice care?

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Please welcome Dr. Chiaramonte.

Her professional path as she outlines on her website, has been a meandering one that has brought her to exactly where she supposed to be. 

Dr. Chiaramonte began practice as a new family physician, and was surprised that many of her patients were suffering from symptoms that no pill could fix. They were exhausted, but their thyroid and blood counts were normal. Their bodies ached but she couldn’t find a lesion. Their life felt flat even though everything was fine. Dr. Chiaramonte desperately wanted to relieve their suffering, but the skills that she learned in medical school weren’t what these patients needed. .

Palliative care and hospice care are both forms of healthcare that aim to provide comfort, support, and quality of life to patients with serious illnesses. While there are similarities between the two, there are also key differences in their focus, goals, and timing.

Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to care that focuses on improving the quality of life for patients facing serious illnesses, regardless of the prognosis. Its primary goal is to provide relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress associated with the illness, as well as addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments and is not limited to end-of-life situations. It is suitable at any stage of illness, from diagnosis through treatment, and even during recovery or disease management. Palliative care teams typically consist of doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists who work together to address the holistic needs of the patient.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is a specific type of palliative care that focuses on providing support to patients who are nearing the end of life. It is typically offered when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired and when life expectancy is estimated to be six months or less. Hospice care emphasizes managing pain and other symptoms while providing emotional and spiritual support to the patient and their loved ones. The goal is to ensure a comfortable and dignified end-of-life experience. Hospice care is usually provided at home, but it can also be offered in specialized hospice facilities, hospitals, or nursing homes.

In summary, palliative care is a broader approach to improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses at any stage, whereas hospice care is a specific form of palliative care that is provided to individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less. Both types of care prioritize comfort, symptom management, and holistic support, but hospice care is specifically focused on end-of-life care.

Visit: www.integrativepalliative.com

Dr. Chiaramonte's podcast: www.integrativepalliative.com/podcast

Video podcasts and more, from "RedefiningCourage" www.redefeningcourage.com #mentalhealth #healthyliving

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