Pain Management and Symptom Relief for Patients with Chronic, Progressive Life-Limiting Illnesses
At Loyola Medicine, palliative care providers care for patients at any stage of a life-limiting illness. Our specialists provide ill patients relief from distressing symptoms, as well as support and comfort for their families.
Loyola’s interdisciplinary team of doctors, palliative care advance practice nurses, social workers and chaplains offer inpatient and outpatient palliative care services. These qualified professionals work closely with primary care physicians and specialists to plan and execute compassionate symptom management.
Palliative care can be a stand-alone treatment plan or a component of a patient’s overall healthcare plan. While it can work in conjunction with end of life hospice care, palliative care is not necessarily for dying patients
For patients undergoing treatment for chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and emphysema, palliative care can help to manage comfort and stress levels while seeking curative care for your illness. Controlling pain and stress helps to improve clinical outcomes and provides patients with the best quality of life possible.
Why Choose Loyola for Palliative Care?
Loyola’s multidisciplinary palliative care team works with our award-winning specialists and primary care physicians to collaborate on a custom health plan to fit your physical, social, spiritual and emotional needs. We provide palliative care in the setting that is most convenient for the patient and family; inpatient and outpatient palliative care services are available.
Our palliative care specialists provide care with expertise and compassion to offer patients the best quality of life possible. This is accomplished by ensuring current and future treatment options are in line with values, beliefs and concerns of the patient and family.
What Conditions are Treated with Palliative Care?
Patients with chronic illnesses often experience discomfort physically and emotionally. At Loyola, our qualified medical experts can provide treatment to ease or alleviate the following symptoms:
- Constipation
- Delirium
- Dyspnea
- Fatigue
- Grief, anxiety or depression
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Pain
Patients with the following conditions may wish to seek palliative care:
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- Alzheimer's disease
- Cancer
- Emphysema/COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Dementia
- Congestive heart failure
- HIV/AIDS
- Advanced kidney failure
- Advanced liver failure
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
What Services are Available with Palliative Care?
Your primary care physician or specialist can refer you to Loyola’s palliative care specialists for management of symptoms related to your medical condition. Our team will meet with you and your family to evaluate your condition and develop a plan of care to meet your needs.
Our multidisciplinary palliative care team serves patients and their families in the following ways:
- Coordination of non-prescription and prescription medication
- Emotional support for the patient and family
- Assistance with Advanced Directives Planning
- Help navigating the medical field when there are difficult decisions to be made about further care
- Referral and coordination with primary care physicians and specialists for other treatment options
