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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

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.

Members of the hospice and palliative care team can include

  • You
  • Your loved ones
  • Palliative doctor
  • Your other doctors
  • Nurse practitioner
  • Physician assistant
  • Nurse
  • Social worker
  • Pharmacist
  • Chaplain
  • Physical therapist
  • Dietician
  • Volunteers