Palliative care was developed to relieve physical and emotional suffering that may accompany life-threatening illness.
According to the World Health Organization, palliative care is the "active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Control of pain and other symptoms and of psychological, social, and spiritual problems is paramount."
The mission of the Loma Linda University palliative care program is to provide relief of physical, emotional, and spiritual distress in those whose disease has no cure. Our goal is to help hospitalized patients and their families achieve the best quality of life possible.
Palliative Care Goals
- Identification and treatment of suffering
- Improve communication between physicians, nursing staff, patient and family
- Assurance that the care provided meets the needs and goals of the patient
- Promote integration and continuity as patients access hospital, nursing home and homecare settings