Palliative care consultations
It’s all about You
Specialty Medical Care for Those with Serious/life threatening Illness
There is never a reason to be afraid of palliative care.
Palliative care is an extra layer of support for those dealing with a serious potentially life threatening illness. You don’t need to be dying, or to give up any members of your present care team or medications. It’s something extra, on top of what you already have. Many people get palliative care while getting treatment, get better, and “graduate” from palliative care.
I’m here to learn about you
Your goals and values, to help you get the care you want and avoid the care you don’t. I work together with the rest of your medical team to coordinate care for what’s best for you.
Having a serious illness can be challenging and scary
Many people dealing with a life threatening illness could use some extra support in living the fullest life possible with the time they have left.
What a Palliative Care Consultant Can do for you
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Helping you and your loved ones plan for exactly what you want if things change in the future.
Discussing what to expect as a disease progresses
Completing COLST/MOLST (Clinician/Medical Order for Life Sustaining Treatment) forms laying out your choices for your care.
Creating an Advanced Directive ensuring everyone knows who should be making decisions for you if you are unable.
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Helping facilitate difficult conversations with loved ones
Coordinating care with your other medical specialists
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Palliative Care specialists have advanced training in management of many of the symptoms people with serious illness experience including complicated pain, shortness of breath, nausea and constipation.
Coping with serious illness - helping you live in the present as fully as possible.
Many feelings often arise - regrets, fear, and hopes that may need to be processed. There may be relationships to tend to, bridges to rebuild, or losses to grieve.
Palliative Care consultants have specialized training in exploring the psychosocial aspects of serious illness, working through them, legacy making, and focusing on finding joy in the present moment.
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I can help you stay in control of your life and death, including options for Medical Aid In Dying which is legal in the state of VT. (https://www.patientchoices.org)
It is not the same as Hospice - Hospice is the last stage of palliative care, for those who have an estimated prognosis of six months or less.
It is not a death sentence. Many people get support from palliative care when they have years left to live, and “graduate” if and when they don’t need it anymore.
It does not mean you stop seeing your regular medical team. We work together.
It does not mean you are stopping your disease modifying treatment. It’s an extra layer of support in addition to your regular care.