Understanding Palliative Care
Published November 25, 2024, at 5:00 AM CST
Palliative care serves as an essential resource for patients grappling with serious illnesses. While hospice care is often associated with the final stages of life, palliative care can be offered concurrently with aggressive treatments, ensuring that patients receive quality care throughout their journey.
KERA’s Sam Baker speaks with Dr. Jane Mwangi, a palliative care advanced practice provider at Parkland Health, about the significance of this supportive medical approach. According to Dr. Mwangi, ‘Palliative care is about helping people manage illness while they’re living.’ It addresses various realms, including:
- Physical symptom management
- Social support
- Spiritual care
- Psychosocial assistance
This multidisciplinary service offers an extra layer of support for both patients and their families as they navigate a chronic illness. It recognizes that illness affects not just the patient but also their loved ones, as caregiving often comes with emotional and financial challenges.
The Importance of Communication
Dr. Mwangi emphasizes that one of the critical roles of palliative care is aiding patients through psychological and social challenges. Questions such as ‘How do I talk to my children about my illness?’ and ‘How do I manage my bills if I can’t work?’ often arise. Palliative care teams, consisting of doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, and chaplains, collaboratively address these issues.
‘When you’re in pain and when you’re sick, the family’s sick too,’ Dr. Mwangi notes, underlining the interconnectedness of patient and caregiver experiences.
Access and Coverage
Many patients wonder about the accessibility of palliative care and how it is covered by insurance. Dr. Mwangi reassures that ‘palliative care is covered by most insurances, similar to various specializations like dermatology or cardiology.’ The key is to confirm coverage with their insurance plans.
Dispelling Misconceptions
A common misconception is that palliative care is synonymous with end-of-life care. Dr. Mwangi clarifies this point, stating, ‘We take anybody with a chronic illness.’ The first visit often serves as an opportunity to clarify the goals of palliative care, which focus on improving the quality of life while managing symptoms in coordination with the patient’s primary care doctor.
Palliative care is designed to work together with the patient’s existing treatment plan, providing holistic support that allows patients to live their lives to the fullest, even in the face of adversity.
Conclusion
As patients confront serious illnesses, understanding and utilizing palliative care can significantly enhance their quality of life. It’s not about stepping away from treatment; rather, it’s about enriching the journey with support on all fronts.
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