[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/palliative-and-hospice-care\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/palliative-and-hospice-care\/","headline":"How Palliative Care Helps Patients Through Serious Illness","name":"How Palliative Care Helps Patients Through Serious Illness","description":"Palliative care is a medical specialty that complements the other care patients receive during a life-threatening illness. ","datePublished":"2016-11-25","dateModified":"2022-12-05","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/palliative-and-supportive-institute","name":"Palliative and Supportive Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/palliative-and-supportive-institute","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/palliative-and-supportive-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Palliative-Care.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Palliative-Care.jpg","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/palliative-and-hospice-care\/","about":["Family Health"],"wordCount":262,"keywords":["bereavement needs","hospice care","palliative care"],"articleBody":"Palliative care\u00a0is a medical specialty that complements the other care patients receive during a life-threatening illness. The goal of palliative care is simple: allow the patient to live their life to the fullest during treatment.At UPMC, the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute is the hub for\u00a0clinical services in palliative care. Its mission is to provide high-quality, coordinated care for patients with serious illnesses. Services are available in the hospital, via outpatient clinics, in skilled nursing facilities, and at home.\u201cAny sort of exacerbation that a patient may be experiencing of a health care problem \u2014 whether they\u2019re leaving the hospital, or they never went to the hospital \u2014 can help a team of clinicians supporting the physician,\u201d says Robert M. Arnold, MD, medical director, UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute. \u201cTypically, a nurse, social worker, and physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can all contribute to a patient\u2019s care.\u201dWhat’s Included in Palliative Care?Palliative care addresses:Quality of life. However, the patient may define that.\u00a0Management of suffering and symptoms, such as pain, anxiety, and family coping.Decisions about how care is provided.The UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute also provides access to consistent education, training, and technical assistance for health care professionals who care for people with serious illnesses.Palliative Care at UPMCFor more information on how palliative care may benefit your own family, call the\u00a0UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute\u00a0at\u00a0412-864-2897\u00a0or toll-free at\u00a01-855-565-7146.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 25, 2016, and was last reviewed on December 5, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How Palliative Care Helps Patients Through Serious Illness","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/palliative-and-hospice-care\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]