Palliative Care Program Helps Patients Suffering with Serious Illness

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, dedicated to recognizing those enduring serious illness and end-of-life care, along with their devoted families and caregivers. Many people often confuse palliative care with hospice care, as both cater to the seriously ill. However, palliative care is distinct in that it provides curative medical treatment without specific time or diagnosis limitations, focusing on symptom management for various illnesses for as long as necessary. Conversely, hospice care mainly focuses on comfort at the end of life.

Washington Hospital Healthcare System offers a comprehensive Palliative Care Program that integrates diverse services and coordinated care. Dr. Krishna Suri, a board-certified internal medicine physician, is particularly passionate about palliative care. "Palliative care aims to provide quality symptom management and skillful guidance in care," he highlights. Dr. Suri and the Palliative Care Team—comprising doctors, nurses, social workers, nurse practitioners, spiritual care coordinators, and other specialists—collaborate with patients' primary care providers to tailor individualized care plans.

How Palliative Care Helps

The program assists patients and families in:

• Navigating the healthcare system
• Identifying care goals
• Managing complex symptoms and treatment options
• Ensuring medical care aligns with personal goals and values
• Providing psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual support
• Anticipating future care needs as illnesses progress

The team’s support fosters crucial conversations among families about complex symptoms such as pain, depression, anxiety, fatigue, breathing issues, appetite loss, and sleep difficulties, helping them prepare for possible counseling if needed. "Care doesn’t end with the prescription,” Dr. Suri emphasizes, noting his commitment to understanding the full scope of his patients’ needs and support systems. "Building relationships with my patients and their families is what drives me."

Who the Program Helps

"Palliative care extends beyond cancer patients," Dr. Suri notes. The program supports those facing:

• Congestive heart failure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Kidney failure (end-stage renal disease)
• Dementia
• Various other chronic conditions

Coping with serious illness can be daunting for patients and families. The Palliative Care Team provides an additional layer of support, alleviating stress through psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual care. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Association reports that palliative care enhances patients' quality of life, eases family burdens, and lessens the strain of navigating the healthcare system.

Worldwide, approximately 56.8 million people, including 25.7 million in their final year of life, require palliative care, according to the World Health Organization, though only about 14% receive it. Dr. Suri concludes, "Families need relevant, patient-centered guidance to navigate unique care transitions that reflect their values and preferences."

How to Access Palliative Care

To inquire about the Palliative Care Program, patients or family members should ask their physician for a referral. Washington Hospital’s Palliative Care Team provides year-round support, both during patient stays and after discharge. For more information, visit whhs.com/PalliativeCare