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The Adult
Inpatient Palliative Care Service at
Rockford Memorial
Hospital
What
is palliative care?
Palliative care is
medical care focused on relief of pain,
symptoms and stress due to serious
illness, whatever the diagnosis.
Palliative care helps patients
and families through all stages of
illness.
It is best introduced early in
the care process and can be provided at
the same time as curative treatments.
Our Palliative Care Team helps
people live more comfortably.
By providing physical, emotional
and spiritual support, we help patients
and their families live the best
possible quality of life.
What
services are provided in palliative
care?
Working closely with the patient’s primary care doctor, we provide:
• Expert treatment of pain and symptoms
• Close communication and compassionate
care
• Help in navigating the health care
system
• Guidance with difficult treatment
choices
• Emotional and spiritual support for
the patient and family
• Home care coordination and referral or
additional support services after a
hospital stay
• Detailed practical information and
assistance
What can the patient expect from
palliative care?
• Relief from distressing symptoms such
as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue
and constipation
• An improved ability to carry on with
daily life
• An improved ability to tolerate
medical treatments
• A better understanding of an illness
and choice for medical care
What is the palliative care
team?
Our palliative care
team consists of trained professionals
who understand palliative care and its
importance in providing support for
patients and families.
It includes physicians, nurses,
case management professionals and
chaplains.
How
does palliative care enhance patient and
family support?
Serious illness
affects the patient and family.
We help patients and their
families identify what is important to
them in the care process, understand
their choices for medical care and make
difficult decisions.
We assist them in effectively
communicating their wishes to physicians
and other caregivers.
We promote peace of mind.
How do I
find out more about palliative care?
If you would like
to know more about the Adult Inpatient
Palliative Care Service for yourself or
a loved one, please ask your doctor or
nurse for a palliative care consultation
or call (815) 971-4024, Monday through
Friday.
You can also visit
this Web site for more information:
www.getpalliativecare.org.
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