Palliative Care v. Hospice Care
Courtney Carter
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

Palliative Care v. Hospice Care

The Differences and Benefits

When facing a serious illness, understanding your care options can make a world of difference. While the terms palliative care and hospice are often used interchangeably, they’re distinctly different types of care, each focusing on a different step in an individual’s care and end-of-life journey.

Simply put, palliative care focuses on maintaining the highest quality of life while managing treatment and other needs while hospice care focuses on the period closest to death.

Here’s a deeper dive into how each supports individuals and families facing serious illness and end of life.

 

What is Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer, dementia, COPD, and heart failure. Often called supportive care, palliative care focuses improving quality of life and helping with symptoms.

Because people receiving palliative care may receive medical care for their symptoms along with treatment intended to cure their illness, palliative care aims to help patients understand their choices for medical treatment.

In addition to addressing medical needs, palliative care focuses on the emotional, spiritual, and social needs of the patient and their family. This all-encompassing care is typically provided by a team of specially trained doctors, nurses and other specialists who work to connect patients and families with the resources they need and minimize the disruptions their illness or treatments may cause in daily life.  

Key aspects of palliative care include:

  • Pain and symptom management

  • Help with setting care priorities and preferences

  • Support for patients and loved ones throughout the illness journey

  • Assistance with advance care planning

Palliative care can be provided in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and at home.

The benefits of palliative care have been well-researched and documented. Beyond empowering individuals to control their care and quality of life, palliative care is associated with:

 

What is Hospice Care

Hospice care is specialized care for those in the last phase of a terminal illness when curative measures are no longer pursued; typically for those with a life expectancy of six months or less. 

While individuals in hospice do not receive curative treatments for their illness(es), they can get treatment that enhances quality of life. This may include medication for high blood pressure, anxiety, and pain and even special services like speech or physical therapy.

Key aspects of hospice care include:

  • Round-the-clock access to care

  • Pain and symptom relief

  • Emotional and spiritual support for patients and families

  • Bereavement services for loved ones

It’s important to note that if a patient’s condition improves or they decide they wish to resume curative care, they may leave and return to hospice care later.

Hospice care can be provided at home, in hospice centers, or other facilities.

The benefits of hospice care include:

  • Relief suffering

  • Help with medical and non-medical needs

  • Promotion of dignity

  • Support for family and caregivers

  • Closure for patients and families

 

By understanding palliative and hospice care, you and your loved ones can make informed decisions that are in line with your goals, values, and preferences.

For tips on talking to loved ones about serious illness and care—theirs or your own—click here. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to relay any wishes and decisions to the appropriate healthcare provider.

While these conversations may be difficult, it’s important to keep the end goal in mind: preserving personal comfort, dignity, and making the most of your time.

 

Allen Hutcheson, MD, is a family medicine physician and palliative care specialist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. 

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What to Expect During Your Outpatient Visit

Now that cases of COVID-19 in the state have plateaued and Governor Phil Scott has given the go-ahead to resume elective procedures, the physicians and nurses at Southwestern Vermont Health Care are eager to provide the elective procedures that were postponed at the onset of the pandemic.

At the same time, we recognize that we need to implement enhanced precautions to ensure safety. See news about the universal safety precautions we are taking here.

Two areas in particular, outpatient surgery and diagnostics (which include the lab and imaging departments), have put additional precautions in place to ensure patient and staff safety.

Outpatient Surgery

3 – 4 Days Before Procedure. Patients will be given directions to get a drive-up swab test for COVID-19. The test should be conducted 3 – 4 days before your surgery. There is no out-of-pocket charge. Patients are given a cloth mask and are asked to wear it and self-isolate until surgery. Results for most tests are expected to be negative. Your surgeon will be in touch with you if there is a positive result. Procedures for those who have tested positive will be rescheduled.

Day of Procedure. Patients should come to the procedure alone, unless they need to be accompanied for safety reasons. Both patients and companions should wear a cloth face covering to the hospital. They are screened for symptoms at the main entrance. Patients will be given a medical-grade procedure mask to wear once they are checked into the unit.

Post Procedure. After the procedure, we will continue to be available to you. You will be provided a link that can be accessed via your cell phone or Internet. The link includes a brief questionnaire to help us assess your progress and guide you to a smooth recovery.

Diagnostic Imaging and Lab Work

Like those receiving an outpatient procedure, every imaging patient will be screened over the phone before arriving at the hospital. Lab patients with appointments will also be pre-screened on the phone. All patients should come for lab and imaging alone, unless a support person is needed for safety reasons. Patients should wear a cloth face covering to the hospital and for the entire duration of their stay. Patients are screened again at the main entrance.

Patients will notice some changes in the waiting rooms. Chairs have been spaced 6 feet apart to comply with social distancing. Reading material has been removed to discourage touching things that have been touched by others. In addition, the exam rooms are being deep cleaned after every patient, and the waiting rooms and high-traffic areas are disinfected hourly.

The clinical professionals at SVHC are confident that these measures, along with continued social distancing, will allow patients to receive the care they need in a safe and timely way.

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