Palliative care is for patients facing a life-limiting illness. It’s focus
is to relieve suffering while assuring comfort, dignity and the best possible
quality of life for patients and their families, regardless of the stage of
the disease or need for other therapies.
What can I expect from palliative care?
• Pain and non-pain symptom management
• Planning for the future
• Non-pain symptom management
• Planning for the future
• Information and resources
• Assistance with important decisions
The palliative care team does not replace the attending physician, but works
with the patient’s physician to coordinate care.
How does palliative care differ from hospice care?
Palliative Care
• For any stage of an illness
• Used in conjunction with curative treatments.
• Helps with transition from curative care to hospice care.
Hospice Care
• Compassionate end-of-life care
• For patients with life-limiting illness.
• For those with life expectancy of 6 months or less.
• For patients who decide on comfort care versus curative treatments.
Service Locations and Convenient Referrals Alegent Health Palliative Care services
are primarily hospital- based. The service is available at all five metro area
hospital locations throughout the Alegent Health System. Referrals for palliative
care must be made by the patient’s primary care physician; however, requests
for information may come from physicians, patients, family members, clergy and
other members of the health care team.
To access Palliative Care services, or for more information, call 402-717-3600.
Palliative Care Team
The Palliative Care Team also works in close collaboration with the hospital
social workers and chaplains to help ensure optimum care.
