Don't have the
Ballad Health App?
Scan the QR code to
download the
Ballad Health app.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness, our palliative medicine team is here to help. Our palliative medicine team in Bristol can help you improve your quality of life by managing symptoms like pain, nausea or fatigue. We also support you with the emotional and mental challenges that often come with an advanced, progressive illness.
This care can start at any age right after diagnosis and can be provided along with treatments aimed at curing the illness.
Our primary goal is to improve a patient’s quality of life – no matter the stage or prognosis of their illness.
With Palliative Medicine, you don’t have to face a serious illness alone.
Palliative medicine is a team effort made up of specially trained doctors, nurses, social workers and other healthcare specialists. We work alongside a patient’s primary healthcare providers to develop a personalized care plan that addresses the physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of care. Palliative medicine provides relief from disease-related symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite and pain.
Numerous studies have highlighted the positive impact of palliative care on patients’ quality of life. Our palliative care team aims to provide comfort and enhance the quality of life for patients and their families. This type of care is delivered alongside other treatments that a patient may be receiving, thus providing a comprehensive approach to patient care.
The cycle of going back to the hospital right after you’ve been discharged poses a significant challenge to you, your family and healthcare systems. These readmissions lead to increased healthcare costs for patients and can also indicate potential gaps in the quality of care. By addressing the complex needs of patients and providing an extra layer of support, palliative care has helped reduce hospital readmissions by ensuring you get the care you need when you need it.
Another important benefit of palliative medicine is the support it provides to you and your family. Dealing with a serious illness can be overwhelming, and palliative medicine helps you navigate the journey. We’ll help you understand all of the treatment options, manage stress or coping with anxiety, the palliative medicine team is there to support you every step of the way.
Palliative | Hospice | |
|---|---|---|
Who is it for? | Meant for anyone with a serious illness, no matter what stage | Meant for patients who are nearing the end of their life |
When to get care? | Can start as soon as the patient is diagnosed | Given when a doctor believes the patient has six months or less to live |
Why seek care? | Can be given along with treatments that aim to cure the illness | Treatments aimed at curing the illness have stopped |
Where is care given? | Given in inpatient, outpatient, at home and in nursing homes | Often provided at home, so the patient can be in a familiar, comfortable environment |
Our palliative care team sees any patient who has an advanced or life-threatening illness. While that sounds like cancer, many of our patients have different, chronic illnesses they need help managing in their day-to-day lives. The goal of our services is to improve your quality of life. To do this, the palliative medicine team will assist with:
We offer comprehensive treatment and care for a variety of conditions, including palliative care for dementia, cancer pain relief and palliative care, as well as comfort for conditions like:
Palliative care focuses on providing specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness.
The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is provided by a trained team of palliative doctors and specialists who work together with a patient’s doctor to provide an extra layer of support.
Palliative treatment is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.
Palliative care providers see patients throughout the full arc of their illness on a consultative basis. Hospice is a specialized program that provides end-of-life care to patients who have elected to forgo curative or perceived life-prolonging treatments. Patients receiving hospice care have a life expectancy of six months or less. Palliative medicine can be provided at any time, regardless of life expectancy or active treatment. All hospice care is palliative, but not all palliative care is hospice care.
Palliative medicine may be right for you if you have a serious illness. Serious illnesses include but are not limited to: cancer, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and many more. Palliative medicine and comfort care are appropriate at any stage of a serious illness. You can also have this type of care at the same time as treatment meant to cure you.
No, as a consulting service, the palliative medicine team provides an extra layer of support and works in partnership with your primary doctor.
Yes, absolutely. Your treatment choices are up to you. You can have palliative care at the same time as treatment meant to cure you. In fact, palliative medicine can ease the burden of symptoms associated with or brought about by the curative treatment itself.
Anywhere in the Appalachian Highlands! If you can come to the office, we will see you there. If not, we may be able to offer home-based palliative care, care in a nursing facility, or virtual palliative care treatment via telehealth services. If you are hospitalized in the Ballad Health system, we cover most facilities in person and are constantly expanding our services.
Palliative medicine settings
You can have it at any age and any stage of an illness, but early in your illness is recommended. For illnesses like kidney disease, lung disease, HIV/AIDs or MS, palliative care can help manage uncontrolled symptoms like pain, depression and fatigue. Recent cancer guidelines say that cancer patients should receive some type of palliative care early and together with their other treatments. People who are newly diagnosed with advanced cancer should receive a palliative care consult within eight weeks (about two months) of their diagnosis.
With our secure MyChart online portal, you can access your own or a family member’s medical records and manage your family’s palliative care at any time.
MyChart allows you to see test results, refill a prescription, check immunization history, message your palliative medicine team and request an appointment – all from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
Download the Ballad Health mobile app today to access your MyChart, bill payment and virtual telehealth services in one easy-to-use location.
Give us a call at (423) 844‑5500 at our Bristol office to schedule an appointment or ask about any of our services today!
Securely view your own or a family member's health records, review test results, pay your bill online and schedule a virtual visit with your doctor.
Message your doctor directly, easily book appointments, check in to an appointment and request prescription refills.