Palliative Care

Palliative care is a branch of medicine that focuses on easing the pain and discomfort of illness to improve a person’s quality of life. Oftentimes, individuals who seek out palliative care are battling long-term or terminal illnesses, such as:

• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Huntington’s disease
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Or a host of other conditions

At Jamaica Hospital in New York, our palliative care physicians are trained to help patients soothe the uncomfortable symptoms and side effects of their illnesses. These symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Depression
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Shortness of breath

Our goal is to ensure that palliative medicine measures improve your quality of life and equip you with the strength to handle each new day.

Our palliative care physicians are dedicated to identifying your needs and easing the pain associated with your illness. Their role in your care includes:

• Assessing your pain and symptoms to provide appropriate recommendations and follow-up
• Making recommendations for treatment options and discharge based on your preferences, goals of care, and prognosis
• Communicating with your family about your illness, goals of care, and advanced directives
• Providing palliative medicine education to our Queens’ hospital nursing and medical staff who care for you

Our end-of-life palliative care nurses and hospice staff are devoted to all aspects of your care. Compassion is the driving force of their work. They are an invaluable part of our team, as they are on the frontline making you comfortable, providing emotional support for you and your family members, and assuring your family members that all of your needs are being met.

Our clinical social workers provide you and your family with psychosocial palliative care in New York to:

• Help you and your family navigate difficult decisions regarding palliative medicine and your healthcare in
• Facilitate communication with family members regarding your wishes.
• Conduct follow-up if you are discharged home, transferred to a rehabilitation facility, skilled nursing home, or inpatient hospice setting.
• Provide information and referral to community resources.
• Make bereavement calls or visits.

We recognize that healing occurs in the realms of mind, body, and spirit. Our chaplaincy services are available to address any spiritual concerns you may have. Our chaplain helps you navigate the challenges you may face by inspiring hope, providing comfort, and helping you find the strength to continue your journey.

An advance directive is an optional legal document that helps your loved ones and healthcare professionals understand what kind of end-of-life palliative care and hospice care you would like to receive if you are no longer able to communicate with them. It ensures that your loved ones and healthcare providers know what medical services you want to receive and who is allowed to make decisions for you if you become unable to do so. To ensure we provide you with the care you desire, our palliative medicine team in Queens is prepared to guide you through the stages of crafting an advance care plan.

The main goal of palliative care in New York is to improve your quality of life and empower you with the strength to face each new day. Our comprehensive team works with you to identify and alleviate the undesirable, painful symptoms of your illness.

Our palliative care team consists of professionals from various disciplines who care about all aspects of your health and wellness. When creating your personalized treatment plan, we combine our skill sets to provide you with support and services for your medical, emotional, and psychosocial needs.

Our palliative medicine physicians work closely with you to create a treatment plan that reflects your unique goals for life and aligns with what matters to you. Our team also connects with your other doctors to take a united approach to your care.

To facilitate faster care and decrease wait times, an ER doctor is stationed in the waiting room to treat patients and address their needs. Certain patients may be discharged without requiring further testing or evaluation.

This area within our emergency department is dedicated to patients requiring urgent end-of-life palliative care and hospice care. Our palliative medicine providers focus on providing rapid evaluation and treatment to reduce your wait time. Meanwhile, you will have access to all capabilities of the entire hospital should your situation require it.

Coping with terminal illness is not easy, and the stages of grief affect everyone differently. Our palliative care team in New York is here to help you process your feelings and provide you with compassionate guidance through every part of your journey.