Palliative care is a healthcare approach which supports patients through their journey of serious illness. Working with the patient, the palliative care team helps to set up realistic goals of care based on what is important to the patient. Palliative care is provided by a compassionate multi-disciplinary team which can include a doctor, nurse practitioner, social worker, and spiritual care counselor.

Palliative care is treatment aimed at relieving the symptoms associated with illnesses and improving a patient’s quality of life.  It is a holistic approach on symptom management which addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient. Palliative care focuses primarily on anticipating, preventing, diagnosing, and treating symptoms experienced by patients. In addition, palliative care helps both patients and their families make medically important decisions.