Overview of Palliative Medicine at Cleveland Clinic
Patients with a complex, life-threatening illness often have unrelieved cancer symptoms and significant physical difficulties sometime during their illness. Specially trained staff in the Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute coordinate the complex medical care for patients as they face the physical and psychological challenges associated with their illness and the pain related to cancer symptoms.
“Palliative care is the active, total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment.” – World Health Organization
A Unique Model
In 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the Palliative Medicine Program at Cleveland Clinic as “a unique model of a much needed service.” As a WHO Demonstration Project, the program serves as a model for other cancer care hospitals around the world. This is just one of the many factors that make us a top cancer hospital.
The People We Serve
The Palliative Medicine Program cares for people with a wide variety of needs. Patients most commonly treated include:
- People with pain or other unrelieved cancer symptoms or cancer-related treatment
- Individuals with AIDS, ALS or cardiac failure
- People in all stages of life-threatening illness
- Patients with nutritional problems caused by progressive disease
- Patients and families with psychological distress related to life-threatening disease
Range of Services*
The palliative medicine team manages pain and other cancer symptoms, promotes communication with the patient and family members and offers emotional support as required or requested by the patient and family.
We consider the patient and family part of this team. The family continues to care for the patient with support and training from our staff, and the patient continues to make decisions about his or her care.
A registered nurse case manager serves as the patient’s main contact to ensure continuity of care.
Hospice and Palliative Home Care, accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, is provided by Cleveland Clinic Health Care Ventures, Inc. Medical care, comfort and emotional support is extended to the seriously ill patient at home.
24-hour on-call phone service is available seven days a week to put patients and families in immediate contact with a team member familiar with their case.
Inpatient Consultation Service provides comprehensive medical assessment and management and focuses on the control of pain and other symptoms to ensure maximum comfort of hospitalized patients.
Outpatient Specialist Clinic follows-up with discharged patients and continues care through regular check-ups by the palliative care team.
Family Education is provided by team members to develop and strengthen coping strategies for family members assisting in the treatment and care of their loved one.
Referral Services are made to community agencies for practical services and community resources to meet the families’ needs.
Bereavement Service offers support to a family following a patient’s death to help ease their transition and adjustment to living without their loved one.
* Treatment at the Center for Palliative Medicine is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as well as most private insurance plans.
