A Team Approach to Hospice and Palliative Care

You, your loved ones, the palliative doctor, and other members of your hospice and palliative care team will have an initial meeting to determine your needs, wishes, and goals for care. Based on your discussions, you and the team will make a plan. The palliative doctor leads the team, working closely with your nurses, who will have regular contact with you. Most of the team members receive special training in palliative care.

Your team will

• prescribe treatments to control pain and other uncomfortable symptoms
• assist with difficult medical decisions, helping you weigh the pros and cons of various treatments
• coordinate care with your other doctors and help you navigate the often confusing healthcare system
• guide you in making a plan for living well, based on your needs, concerns, and goals for care
• provide you and your loved ones emotional and spiritual support and guidance.

You will meet with various members of the team regularly. Someone from the team, most often the nurse, will communicate with you frequently to make sure your needs are being met. You and your loved ones are the most important members of the team.

Team members providing care are not limited to doctors and nurses and the care you receive is not limited to medications. Learn about complementary methods that the team might use.