Piedmont Palliative Care
Specialized Care for Pain and Symptom Control
Piedmont Palliative Care is a consultation service sponsored by Hospice of the Piedmont. Palliative Care seeks to reduce suffering and improve the quality of life for patients with advanced illness as well as their family. Palliative Care consultations are available regardless of the patient’s prognosis or life expectancy.
The goals of this Piedmont Palliative Care are simple:
Help patients and their families manage pain and other symptoms related to their illness.
- Offer emotional support to patients and everyone in their support system.
- Provide information and referrals to other services that allow patients to be independent, active and have the highest quality of life possible.
- Work with the patient’s existing physician and see patients at home, in a clinic, in a long term care facility or nursing home, or at Martha Jefferson Hospital.
- Help coordinate complex cases to assure that all involved health care providers are working towards the same goals of care as identified by the patient and family.
Piedmont Palliative Care believes that everyone has the right to be pain free. Palliative Care is offered along with all other appropriate medical therapies. There is no requirement to stop treatments like dialysis, transfusions or cancer therapy.
The services we offer are provided to all residents of our community regardless of ability to pay. However, a consultation from Piedmont Palliative Care may be covered by Medicare or private insurance. A referral from your physician is required for insurance coverage.
Answers to some common questions about Piedmont Palliative Care:
Q: What services are offered by Piedmont Palliative Care?
A: Our consultation service includes an evaluation of the patient’s medical condition and a recommendation for treatment based on the patient’s specific needs. We work with our patients and their families and their primary physicians to identify their goals for treatment and to educate them regarding the available treatment options. We also coordinate care amongst our Palliative Care Team which includes nurses, counselors and other health care professionals.
Q: How do I arrange for a consultation with Piedmont Palliative Care?
A: In order to provide the most effective care, your physician needs to be involved in the Palliative Care consultation process. We work with your physician to coordinate your care to produce the greatest benefit to you. You should talk about your goals for controlling your pain with your doctor and ask for a referral to Piedmont Palliative Care. At that point either you or your physician can contact us to schedule a consultation. In general, insurance plans require a referral from your physician in order to cover the cost of the consultation.
Q: What types of patients can benefit from Piedmont Palliative Care’s services?
A: Any patient that is suffering from the symptoms of a serious illness such as pain, nausea, fatigue, or shortness of breath, can benefit from Piedmont Palliative Care. Patients do not need to qualify for hospice care for a Palliative Care consultation.
Q: Can’t my regular doctor treat the symptoms of my illness?
A: Piedmont Palliative Care acts as a consultant to your physician. While your doctor knows your current condition, Piedmont Palliative Care’s physicians have specific training and experience in dealing with the symptoms related to serious illness. In fact all of our physicians are board certified or board eligible in Palliative Medicine. This medical discipline focuses entirely on helping patients achieve comfort and have the highest quality of life.
Q: Does my regular doctor stay involved in my treatment?
A: Absolutely. Piedmont Palliative Care consults with your physician, complimenting his or her understanding of your condition with specific knowledge and experience related to treating pain. Our palliative care physicians are also board certified in internal medicine, so they are able to understand your illness and the curative treatments you are receiving.
Q: What kind of illnesses do palliative care patients have?
A: Patients may have any of a variety of illnesses including but not limited to, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, kidney failure, dementia, stroke or vascular disease. If you have questions please feel free to contact us for more information.
Q: Is Palliative Care the same as Hospice Care?
A: No; there are differences between Palliative Care and Hospice Care. Palliative Care is available to any patient suffering from the pain or symptoms related to their illness regardless of their prognosis. Also, patients can continue to pursue treatment for their illness while benefiting from the consultation services offered by Piedmont Palliative Care.
Piedmont Palliative Care’s Physician
Dr. Tim Short has been board certified by the American Board of Family Physicians since 1987 and is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care with active privileges at MJH for palliative care medicine. He has been a member of the MJH staff since 1987 and has served as the Chief of the Family Medicine Section in the past. Dr. Short has taught at the University of Virginia since that time as well. He received his Medical Degree from Duke University Medical School. He completed his residency at the University of Virginia where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Short was in private practice for twenty years before serving as Chief Medical Officer at Hospice of the Piedmont.