Palliative Care/Survivorship and Supportive Care Program involves services that can help patients and families during times of great challenge by improving their ability to carry on with daily life and live as comfortably as possible. A specialized team meets with the patient and family members during hospitalization to discuss their needs and assist in efforts to heal. The team, which includes specialists from medicine, nursing, social work, and pastoral care, focuses on a “whole person” approach, providing compassionate care and guidance for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

The team works closely with the primary treatment professionals to manage difficult symptoms, and to help the patient make challenging decisions and cope with the complex needs caused by advanced or life-threatening illness. The service can help patients with cancer and other illnesses, at all stages, including at the onset of illness up to and including the end of life, if needed.

Supportive care may be needed at any stage of illness, even while receiving active disease modifying therapies such as chemotherapy. It focuses on treatment of symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and pain (sometimes as side effects of certain therapies); establishing goals and setting priorities about care; assisting with coordination of care, communication, and information sharing; and assisting with working through the healthcare system. 

In recognition of its groundbreaking work, the Survivorship and Supportive Care Program received the National Consensus Project 2009 Quality in Palliative Care Leadership Award.

For more information, call (631) 444-2052 or (631) 638-2801.

The Palliative Care program also dedicates a coordinator to assist with issues and questions related to death including autopsy information, organ donations, funeral arrangements, and death certificates. Call (631) 444-7594.