If you have questions about an inpatient palliative care consult, ask your primary physician.
Our Inpatient Palliative Care Consult Team is a group of physicians who specialize in helping with pain and symptom management, regardless of the stage of serious illness. Palliative care is more than just end of life care; it can also support you while you seek treatments for your illness.
You may request a consult if you need help with the following:
- Managing physical and/or emotional symptoms - Physical symptoms can include pain, difficulty in breathing, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite, or oral health problems. Emotional symptoms can include sadness, fear, anxiety, depression and grief.
- Advance care planning – Our team can help you with discussions about your values and who you would want to make decisions for you if you were unable to do so yourself. See the Advance Care Planning page for more information and resources.
- Decision-making – Sometimes we are faced with major decisions in our health care. Our team can help you discuss what is important to you to maintain your quality of life.
- Community supports – In collaboration with the transition navigator, our team can make recommendations to your doctor for outpatient supports, such as an outpatient team, home and community care, visiting hospice volunteers and other community resources.
Your primary physician may refer to our Palliative Care Consult Team at any time during your admission.