Palliative Care

Palliative Care is specialized medical care focused on the unique physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of persons living with serious or life-threatening illness. At Inova hospitals, our palliative care teams are available to patients and their families at any stage of serious illness; from diagnosis, through curative treatment, to end of life care. Palliative Care Improves Quality of Life Palliative care treats people suffering from a wide range of serious and chronic illnesses, including but not limited to: Cancer Heart disease Lung disease Kidney disease Neurological conditions (stroke, ALS, MS, Parkinson's disease) Dementia Any serious illness, regardless of whether it is curable, chronic or life-threatening Palliative care focuses on symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and depression. It also helps you gain the strength to carry on with daily life. It improves your ability to tolerate medical treatments. And it helps you have more control over your care by improving communication so that you can better understand your choices for treatment. Inova Offers Palliative Care at All of Its Hospitals Inova palliative care teams are available at every Inova hospital and are committed to improving the quality of life for people living with serious illnesses. Working closely with the patient's healthcare team, we provide coordinated care including: Symptom management Physical, psychological, social, spiritual and emotional support In-depth discussions with patients about their condition, their treatment options and the benefits and burdens of various healthcare options How Do I Get Palliative Care? Talk to your healthcare team to request a visit with palliative care. In the hospital, patients are typically seen within one to two days from visit request. Outside of the hospital, you can be directed to outpatient palliative care programs who can see you in your at your home, a clinic or by telehealth. Inpatient and outpatient palliative care services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance plans. Learn More We want you to have all the information you need about palliative care and how it can help you or your loved one. This additional information may be helpful to you: Contact Us Frequently Asked Questions More Details on Inova's Palliative Care Program