A Palliative Care Consultation Team is based at both the Hamilton General and Juravinski Hospital sites.
These teams work in partnership with the patient’s primary healthcare team, a team of physicians, nurses, and social workers to provide consultation services for inpatients and their families.
Palliative care services are provided to patients and their families / circle of supporters and respects that everyone approaches death from their own unique perspective based upon their individual values, beliefs, and life experiences. Palliative care is active care which focuses on maintaining the quality of life, comfort, autonomy and dignity of each patient through the prevention, assessment and management of potentially distressing symptoms.
A palliative care approach to care can be provided by all healthcare professionals throughout the disease trajectory. It is recommended that patients begin receiving palliative care support as early as possible, even at the time of diagnosis of a life-limiting illness.
There are Palliative Care Consult teams at McMaster University Medical Centre and West Lincoln Memorial Hospital as well, (please review those site links for further info).
Care We Provide
Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
- Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process;
- Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death;
- Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care;
- Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death;
- Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement;
- Uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counseling, if indicated;
- Will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness;
- The focus of care may change with the addition or continuation of some treatments and may mean stopping other forms of treatment.
At HHS we have a number of palliative care resources to support our patients, families, staff and physicians.
Our Services
Interdisciplinary teams including a doctor, nurse and social worker provide care for adult inpatients and their families who require the specialized skills of a palliative care service. Our professionals work with the patient, the family and other members of the health care team.
Our team will work with you to:
- Relieve suffering, including pain and other distressing physical and emotional symptoms
- Assist with future care planning
- Help with discharge planning
If you think you or your family member could benefit from the involvement of the Palliative Care Team, please talk with your hospital doctor or nurse.
What We Do
We are an interdisciplinary team including a doctor, nurse and social worker that provide holistic care for adult inpatients and their families who require the specialized skills of a palliative care service. Our professionals work with the patient, the family and other members of the health care team to:
- Relieve suffering, including pain and other distressing physical and emotional symptoms
- Assist with complex goals of care discussions
- Assist with complex discharge planning
- Assist with end-of-life management
- Provide education to patients and their families
- Provide focused counseling with our specialist palliative care social worker
If you think you or your family member could benefit from the involvement of the Palliative Care Team, please talk with your hospital doctor or nurse.
Eligibility & Referrals
Patients are referred to by their attending hospital doctor, based on:
- Diagnosis of a life threatening or terminal illness, and;
- Requiring the expertise of a specialized palliative care service for:
- The assessment and management of acute symptoms and/or psycho-social distress
- Specialized assistance with planning for goals of inpatient care, discharge planning, future care planning and/or end of life care
