When patients and families are coping with a serious or potentially terminal illness at Robinson Memorial Hospital, an expert team is there to help provide balanced care. The Palliative Care Consult Team assists a patient's doctor in reducing pain, providing comfort, easing psychological burdens and providing spiritual support when a patient needs it most.

Palliative care is different than hospice because both comfort care and curative treatment are available at the same time.

The palliative care physician and team visit patients daily to address comfort issues, adjust medications and authorize changes that can reduce pain and ease psychological problems. The team provides thorough support and guidance to supplement the care provided by the patient's attending physician.

The team includes:

• A palliative care physician
• An advanced practice nurse
• A social worker
• The hospital chaplain

Patients and families may request a Palliative Care Consult at Robinson Memorial Hospital by talking with their nurse or physician.