When you have a serious illness such as cancer, COPD, CHF or Parkinson’s disease, day-to-day life can be difficult. It can be hard to have a good day. Palliative Care can provide you with the support and relief you need to have more good days.

Palliative Care is provided by a specially-trained team that works together to improve quality of life for you and your family. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of a serious illness and is provided along with all other treatment for that illness.

What Can You Expect?

Your Palliative Care team is made up of medical and social service professionals who communicate with your primary care doctor. They will spend time getting to know you so they can understand your goals and help you make healthcare choices that will achieve those goals.

Palliative Care includes relief from pain, stress and other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea, poor appetite and fatigue. You will receive guidance in making important and sometimes difficult healthcare decisions.

This means you can:
  • Understand your illness better
  • Talk openly about your feelings
  • Decide what treatment you want or don’t want
  • Communicate better with your doctors, nurses and family
  • Have visits right in your own home or at DMC Primary Care

Palliative Care goes beyond your illness and provides an extra layer of support for you as a whole person, as well as your loved ones.

If you feel Palliative Care could help you, please talk with your primary care provider.

Call  (603) 537-1300

Meet DMC Primary Care’s Palliative Care Provider

Kate Jenkins, APRN
Kate leads the Palliative Care team for DMC. In addition to her training as a nurse practitioner, Kate also has specialized training in Palliative Care. She brings knowledge and compassion to patients who are living with serious illnesses to help them achieve and maintain their highest quality of life. This means managing clinical needs such as connecting with doctors, explaining medicines and discussing treatment options with patients and their families. It also means coordinating any physical, emotional and/or spiritual support services. Kate and her team’s main purpose is to make sure the patient’s goals and needs are being met.

https://youtu.be/xEDb7lMcTZk

FAQs

What can I expect from Palliative Care?

You can expect to be listened to and to be able to communicate your wishes, hopes and dreams. You will gain more control over your care and you can expect improvement in the quality of your life through better control of your symptoms.

Is Palliative Care the same as hospice?

No. Palliative Care can be provided at any stage of your illness (even right after diagnosis) and can occur along with all the usual treatments to cure your disease. Hospice is special end of life care and is not administered with curative treatments.

Is Palliative Care covered by insurance?

Most insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid cover Palliative Care. At DMC, it is part of our primary care model, so you will typically only pay your regular co-pay for your Palliative Care visits.

Where do I receive Palliative Care?

We can visit with you in a variety of settings including your doctor’s office, your home or the hospital, when necessary.

Will I have to give up my doctors?

No. We will work alongside your DMC primary care doctor as well and any of your other regular doctors and providers. We will allow extra time to explore your options and help you navigate the healthcare system.

How do I know if Palliative Care is right for me?

If you have a serious illness such as lung disease, heart disease, dementia, Parkinson’s or others, and feel that you would benefit from better coordination of care, you are a candidate for Palliative Care. Here’s to having more good days!