Frequently Asked Questions

Palliative Care FAQs

What is Palliative ( pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) Care?
Palliative Care means comfort care, and is offered as a program of consultative services to help relieve the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness. The goal is to maximize the quality of life for individuals and families coping with difficult, but not terminal, medical conditions.

What kind of help does Palliative Care provide?
Working closely with your primary care doctor or nurse practitioner, our Palliative Care staff—a palliative care doctor, a medical social worker, and a registered nurse—works directly with you and your family.

• Focuses on relief of pain and other physical symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, and fatigue;
• Listens for and addresses emotional and spiritual support for you and your family;
• Provides education and coaching for you and your family to help everyone understand your medical condition and treatment options;
• Develops a palliative care plan that is intended to complement any other ongoing treatment and care that you are receiving;
• Aids in the development of an advance care plan that addresses and respects your goals and values where future medical treatment and care are concerned; and
• Plans and arranges for helpful community resources.

How do I know if Palliative Care is right for me?
Palliative Care may be right for you if you are suffering from a serious illness and believe any of the assistance listed above can be of help. Some of the many illnesses for which Palliative Care is appropriate are: heart disease, lung disease, cancer, old age and frailty, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and dementia.

How can I access these services?
Talk with your primary care physician, who can refer you to our Palliative Care services. If you feel you could benefit from palliative care services, ask your doctor to make a referral. A staff member from the Palliative Care team will then call you to set up an appointment.

Where do I receive Palliative Care?
The team comes to you wherever you are—in your home, nursing home, assisted living or retirement community, or in a hospital room.

Does Palliative Care mean curative treatment is out?
Definitely not! Palliative Care can be, and often is, used right along with curative treatments.

How much does it cost?
The Palliative Care physician’s fee is billed to Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. There is no charge to you for other services of the team.

How do I find out more about Palliative Care of the Carolina Foothills?
You may call or e-mail Palliative Care of the Carolina Foothills:  Meg Hoke, LMSW, Program Coordinator, and Garry Snipes, MD, Palliative Care Physician, at 828.894.7016, 800.617.7132, or pcare@hocf.org. Voice mails and e-mails are completely confidential.