What is palliative care?
Palliative care is a medical specialty that helps patients and their families live as fully as possible when faced with a potentially life-threatening illness. Palliative care aims to alleviate suffering and promote quality of life, and addresses physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
Unlike hospice care, which focuses on end-of-life care, palliative services are provided during any phase of a serious illness, including active treatments such as chemotherapy. This type of care assists patients with independence, access to information, and choice.
What is hospice?
Hospice care is a type of palliative care that is offered to patients with life-threatening illness in the last six months of life.
Services Available
Consult services:
Outpatient Clinic: Clinics are available in both Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury. Your primary care provider, specialist provider, or social worker can refer you or you can call 1-800-865-3384 ext. 36473 to reach Kathleen Dunn, LICSW, Palliative Care Coordinator, to schedule a visit. West Roxbury campus consults: Consults are available for patients who are admitted to the hospital. Your physician, nurse or social worker can refer you, or you can call 1-800-865-3384 ext. 36473 to reach Kathleen Dunn, LICSW, Palliative Care Coordinator, to request a consult. Brockton campus consults: Consults are available for patients who are admitted to the Brockton campus community living center, spinal cord or psychiatry units. Your physician, nurse or social worker can refer you, or you can call 1-800-865-3384 ext. 61426, Frank Collins, RN, Nurse Manager, to request a consult.
Inpatient units:
Located in the West Roxbury acute care setting and the Brockton community living center, inpatient units are available for acute management of pain and other symptoms. Read more here.
Massachusetts Hospice - Veteran Partnership (MHVP):
A coalition of VA facilities and community hospice organizations that is committed to work together to ensure excellent care for veterans at the end of life. Read more here.*
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