Palliative Care Services Department
About Us
Our Mission
The mission of the Palliative Care Service is to improve the quality of care and healthcare experience for all AHS patients and families living with serious illness by collaborating with and teaching health care professionals to provide the best possible patient and family centered care to the patients we serve.
Our Vision
“Everyone diagnosed with a serious illness or condition in our public system has access to expert palliative care.”
Definition of Palliative Care Service
Living with a serious illness is hard. You may have pain or other forms of distress. You may wonder whether your treatment is really helping you. You may feel lonely, anxious, angry, confused, or sad. You may not know what to do next. Palliative care can help you cope with all of this.
Palliative care is a branch of medicine that concentrates on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. It focuses on improving the quality of your life—in your body, but also mentally and spiritually. The nature of the care you receive depends on what you need: your goals guide your care. You and your family can have help making important decisions, understanding your treatment, and share triumphs and frustrations. In palliative care, much attention is paid to communicating among the members of your care team.
Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. It is often combined with curative treatment.
