Palliative medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the many ways serious illness affects patients and their families.

The palliative medicine team of physicians and clinicians will focus on the patient's pain and symptom management as well as address any emotional or spiritual needs.

Palliative medicine:

• Reduces or controls pain and debilitating symptoms
• Provides counseling for patients and families when making medical decisions becomes difficult
• Provides support through all stages of illness

The goal is to ensure the highest quality of life possible for patients and their families by helping the "total patient" and relieving physical and non-physical suffering brought on by the disease.

Palliative medicine treats serious illness regardless of prognosis, and patients can receive it at any point in their illness, with or without curative treatment.

Choosing palliative medicine is not "giving up" – rather it is choosing to have more control over pain and symptoms.

Palliative medicine helps the patient, family and the patient's physician when:

• Pain and debilitating symptoms are difficult to control
• Ethical decision-making is unclear
• Complex physical, psychological and social suffering requires extensive evaluation and close follow-up

The palliative medicine team of trained professionals includes:

• Palliative medicine physician from OhioHealth HomeReach
• Nurse
• Social worker
• Spiritual care provider

The patient's physician will remain in charge of the patient's care. Palliative medicine complements the attending physician's care when comfort, counseling and quality of life become increasingly important.

To find out more about palliative medicine at Riverside, call (614) 566-5019.

Learn about pain

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Palliative care: who is it for?