What is supportive care?
Supportive care is specialized medical care that focuses on reducing the symptoms, pain, and stress caused by serious illness. It is a unique service to support your quality of life and well-being, and can support your family as well. Supportive care can be provided at various points during your healthcare journey, from your initial diagnosis and as your care plans evolve. These services are delivered by a team of specially trained providers, including doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, social workers and chaplains.
What kinds of services are available?
Supportive care includes Home Health Care, Palliative Care and Hospice Care. These services are offered according to your needs and health care goals. At times, supportive care is provided along with other specialties aimed at curing disease. Occasionally supportive care is offered as a stand alone, holistic type of care when the goal of care changes from treatment to comfort only.
Home health
Home health care provides a wide range of services in your home as you recover from illness or injury. It is a convenient way to receive effective care within the comfort of your own home. Home health care may assist you with wound care, intravenous or nutrition therapy, physical therapy and more, depending on your specific needs.
Palliative care
Palliative care is appropriate for people of all ages and provides specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness.
Palliative care can be offered alongside your current treatments, such as chemotherapy, dialysis, or surgery.
Hospice care
Hospice provides support to patients with a life-limiting illness. The focus is on holistic care (care of the whole person), supporting the patient's physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Hospice care supports the patient's end of life goals while providing comfort and dignity throughout their journey.
In addition, hospice care provides bereavement to family members for up to 13 months following the passing of their loved one.
For assistance in finding resources or other services, please contact Care Management at 855-288-6747.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about Advance Care Planning (ACP)
Advance care planning is a process that involves planning for future medical care decisions should you become unable to communicate your wishes. The most important part of advance care planning is having intentional conversations with your loved ones about your wishes. Often the aspects of those conversations are put in writing by completing a legal document called an "advance directive".
Advance care planning is not just for those who are experiencing illness. Planning ahead for any unforseen medical event or accident helps ensure your care aligns with your personal wishes. Having the conversation with your loved ones and putting your wishes into an advance directive document means you'll have the benefit of someone you trust making medical decisions for you. If you do not have an advance directive and your become unable to make decisions about your care, the state laws where you live will determine who may make decisions on your behalf.
Supportive care team members can help you explore what matters to you most and assist you in putting your wishes into an advance directive.
Care management
A care manager can monitor your care and treatment. Our nurses and behavioral health care managers support you through regular phone calls. They provide education on your conditions, review medications and symptoms, answer questions, support your individual goals, make referrals where needed, and assess for concerns that need special attention.
Care managers work with your doctors to help you manage your serious illness more effectively. The Ascension Care Management team is available to support your patients from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Patient Coordinator Team via email at acmmembers@ascension.org or by phone at 855-288-6747.
Spiritual care
Our qualified chaplains are available to provide compassionate, one-on-one care, online or over the phone at no-cost. This means you can talk with an Ascension chaplain, anytime, anywhere, seven days a week.
Chaplains provide caring, compassionate support during difficult or challenging times.
You can also reach a chaplain directly 24 hours a day, seven days a week here or 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday at 833-789-4487 or email at onlinechaplains@ascension.org.
Virtual care
Amwell Virtual Care can provide you with 24/7 access to a doctor or advanced practitioner via video visit. Online appointments with psychiatrists, psychologists, or counselors are also available.
Visit smarthealth.amwell.com to get started, or download the Amwell mobile app. Once registered, you will gain access to board-certified doctors and licensed therapists and psychiatrists on Amwell.
Be sure to enter the service key “SMARTHEALTH” when you sign up on Amwell or you may be charged a higher rate for your visit.
For Care Management, please fill out the CM Referral Request Form or scan the QR code with your phone.
Frequently asked questions about supportive care
-
Who is eligible for supportive care?
- Anyone who is experiencing the stress and symptoms of a serious illness is eligible for supportive care.
- Palliative care is available at any age and any stage of your illness and does not require a referral.
- Hospice care is available to anyone at any age who has a terminal diagnosis that has been determined to be life-limiting. That means that if the disease follows its typical progression, it is likely that the patient would survive less than 6 months.
-
What kinds of questions can I explore with my supportive care team?
Common questions to explore with your supportive care team include:
- What programs and resources are available?
- What can I expect next?
- Is the next chemotherapy option the right choice for me?
- What are the benefits or burdens of surgery?
- What would palliative care at home look like?
- Does it make sense to start dialysis?
- How and when might hospice be the best option?
Supportive care supports you and your decisions. It helps you explore each option and make your own choices.
-
When should I start thinking about palliative care?
Palliative care is an option for people at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. It can help care for patients facing conditions such as cancer, heart failure, lung disease, kidney failure, liver failure, neurological diseases (e.g., ALS, Parkinson’s), and dementia.
Palliative care helps improve the quality of life for people living with serious illness by increasing comfort, confidence and control. -
Is palliative care the same as hospice?
No, while both palliative and hospice care are comfort focused, they differ based on the goals of the patient:
- Palliative care is an extra layer of support for those with a serious illness who are continuing to receive treatment.
- Hospice care is an extra layer of support for those with a life expectancy of 6 months or less and no longer wishing to receive treatment.
-
Can I have chemotherapy and other treatments while I am receiving palliative care?Yes. Patients can benefit from palliative care before, during and after treatments. In fact, studies show that palliative care positively impacts a patient's quality of life during chemotherapy.
-
Is my doctor still part of my care if I receive palliative care?Yes. The palliative care team collaborates with your doctor and specialists to incorporate comfort into all aspects of your care.
-
How can I find palliative care services?Talk to your doctor or call 855-288-6747 to speak with a SmartHealth care management representative.
-
Where can I receive palliative care?Palliative care services are becoming more available across the country. Depending on where you live, you may find palliative care in the hospital, through home visits or clinic visits.
-
When should I start thinking about advance care planning?
Advanced care planning is for everyone age 18 and older who is able to make their own decisions - from young and healthy adults, to those with chronic health conditions, to those who are terminally ill. Start the conversation today, write down your preferences early, and keep them updated if things change.
An advanced care plan allows you to outline your healthcare wishes in a legal document (called an advanced directive) in case you become unable to make decisions on your own. Advanced care planning documents are free and available across Ascension sites of care. To learn more, visit ascension.org.