Palliative care is a type of medical care for people living with serious illnesses. It focuses on reducing pain and other symptoms to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Palliative Care at Atrius Health
Atrius Health’s Palliative Care team strives to help people live as well as they can for as long as possible. Palliative care is a medical specialty, just like cardiology. We use a team approach to focus on relieving the symptoms and stresses of living with serious illness. Our team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, a nurse, social workers, and a chaplain. Here are some of the services the program provides:
- Holistic clinical expertise in managing symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, nausea, constipation, poor appetite, weakness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and difficulty sleeping.
- Addresses the impact of illness on personal and family life.
- Assists patients and loved ones in clarifying their goals and priorities and understanding what to expect from their illness and treatments.
- Helps you create an emergency plan for acute issues that arise to reduce hospitalizations.
- Offers an extra layer of support during a serious illness.
Palliative care can be for patients at any stage of an illness. It can benefit patients with conditions including:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Chronic lung disease
- Kidney or liver failure
- Advanced dementia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Palliative care is covered by insurance, and all regular treatment options will be continued. Patients will continue to see their treatment teams, including their primary care provider and specialists.
How to Reach Us
If you are interested in making an appointment with an Atrius Health palliative care provider, speak with your primary care provider or specialist. Visit us at www.atriushealth.org/palliative-care to learn more.
Some helpful links for more information on palliative care:
Honoring Choices Massachusetts
Know Your Choices: A Guide for Patients with Serious Advancing Illness
