Many who have been recently diagnosed with a chronic disease or illness are searching for care options that allow them to receive treatment no matter where they call home. Paradigm Health’s community-based, team approach to palliative care services can be provided in whatever setting you or your loved one calls home including a private home, nursing home, or assisted living facility. You might also wonder how this type of care will collaborate with your physician and why choosing the right palliative care partner to support your caregiving journey is so important.
A recent diagnosis for a chronic, serious, or life-threatening disease that you are still seeking curative treatments for may have you searching for a palliative care provider. Navigating the complex world of medical diagnoses, appointments, medications, and keeping all doctors on the same page can be a daunting task. Having an advocate to help partner, support and lead your care can be both valuable and provide stress relief throughout your journey.
Palliative care is advanced illness management and can benefit patients with chronic, serious, or life-threatening illnesses who are symptomatic, as well as patients who are high risk to be re-hospitalized. Some Illnesses most commonly treated by a palliative care team are heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, renal disease, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Questions that you may be wondering about can be answered by our Paradigm Health palliative care team and can ensure that we are not duplicating the efforts of your primary care physician or other medical team members but acting as a valuable team leader to bring together all of your caregiving team and to streamline your care.
Will palliative care replace my primary care physician?
- No. Palliative care does not replace current medical care, rather, it is a specialty consultative medical practice that addresses symptoms and care management. Paradigm Health nurse practitioners maintain regular contact with a patient’s primary physician to provide collaborative and consistent care.
Who would be a part of a palliative caregiving team?
- Nurse Practitioner: Directs symptom management; care plan navigation and medical records reconciliation.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Assists in connecting family and patient with community resources; offers counseling options
- This is often times beyond the medical and moves into psycho-social therapies to combat anxiety and depression.
- May be able to recommend other needed therapies for the patient including physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy
