Hospice & Palliative Care(e)

Catalog description

Palliative medicine is the study and management of patients with active, progressive life-limiting illness who have elected to focus their care on improving their remaining quality of life rather than prolonging life. The emphasis is on advanced planning and continuous care rather than diagnosis and treatment. Care is directed toward addressing suffering, both in the form of treating the patient's physical symptoms as well as meeting the psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient and family. Care often takes place at home, involving an intimate interaction with both patient and family caregivers.