Palliative Care

Palliative care offered by St. Bernardine’s is appropriate for individuals going through serious or complex medical conditions who still hope to find a cure. While the time spent struggling for answers may be one filled with extreme stress for both the patient and his or her family members, St. Bernardine can help with expert medical care.

St. Bernardine’s palliative care services seek to provide a foundation of medical support for the patient. The integrated care team can help with lab work, medical testing, and treatment options and can provide support to family members and other caregivers. Palliative care can be given in an inpatient setting or at the patient’s home.

Palliative Care Services

The services that our palliative care team offers depend on the needs of the patient as well as on insurance coverage. Services we offer include:

Inpatient and in-home skilled nursing care
Symptom management to aid in comfort, including pain management
24/7 telephone assistance
Interdisciplinary care plans
Patient and family education
Holistic support for physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing

Eligibility

Palliative care is a good choice for any patient going through any critical illness who wants symptom management. Some patients may recover and leave the program while others continue palliative care as their diseases progress.

With a multi-faceted care team, St. Bernardine’s provides innovative palliative care throughout Southern California in inpatient or home settings.

Insurance

While numerous insurance companies cover St. Bernardine’s, patients are urged to check with their companies prior to beginning treatment. Our admissions officers can help with all of the calling and paperwork involved. Be aware that insurance companies differ greatly in palliative care coverage although numerous companies are adding this service.

Care Plans

We understand that every patient has different goals, and we work closely with each patient and family to create a care plan that matches those values. As needs change, we will continually tweak the care plan. Our palliative care team will discuss methods for managing symptoms, including pain, and will educate patients and families about treatment options.

Teamwork

St. Bernardine’s care team is made up of a wide variety of professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers and home health aides, who will manage patient care. They can also work with a patient’s primary care doctor. With 24/7 access to our staff, patients and their families can choose St. Bernardine’s with confidence.