What is Palliative Care?

Last Updated: Aug. 1, 2003

When a patient’s illness has become advanced, palliative care can bridge the gap to move from cure-based mainstream medicine to more of a focus on care and comfort.

Palliative care focuses primarily on relieving pain and physical symptoms, giving special attention to the emotional and spiritual needs and helping patients and families to achieve meaningful closure at the end of life.

Palliative care can be provided in the hospital setting as well as in a patient’s home. One source of payment for this service is through contracts with home hospice agencies. There is an inpatient hospice unit at St. Mary’s Milwaukee.

A palliative care coordinator is available to advocate for the patient by working with the patient and with the physician to assist in these areas:

• Pain and management of other symptoms
• Assistance with advance directives and living wills
• Provide community resources for home care and hospice
• Assist with any coordination of care needed

For help with any of these issues, please call Sue Luedcke, R.N., at (414) 961-3745.

We Have Answers Do you have medical questions or need help finding a doctor? The experts at Columbia St. Mary's and Advanced Healthcare can help. Click here.