Palliative Care

Palliative Care on Staten Island, NY

Patients of all ages are sometimes diagnosed with serious, life-changing illnesses. Handling the symptoms and stress of these illnesses can be made easier with the assistance of experienced physicians and medical professionals. The palliative care offered at Richmond University Medical Center on Staten Island, New York, coordinates comprehensive medical services to benefit patients, families, and loved ones as they navigate the challenges of living with disease and illness.

Richmond University Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for quality and patient safety. With specialists from a wide variety of medical fields gathered in one place, we care for patients of all ages who have many different conditions affecting their health. Our staff provide expertise in treating illnesses by utilizing modern technology and research to provide the best care possible. Patients who require palliative care, and their families and loved ones, can access resources from throughout our organization.

Palliative Care and Hospice Care: What is the Difference?

As patients and their families come to understand the physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of a serious medical diagnosis, it’s important to explore what services can help and improve their quality of life. Part of that process includes learning about the different resources available, such as palliative care or hospice care. It’s important to recognize the differences between these two services:

Palliative Care

At Richmond University Medical Center, palliative care is offered to help patients who are experiencing pain, stress, and other challenging symptoms related to their illness. This service is offered in addition to the primary treatment plan and is intended to provide day-to-day comfort and assistance for the patient and their loved ones. Palliative care helps with many diseases and conditions, including:

• Cancer
• Advanced Cardiovascular disease (i.e. congestive heart failure)
• Brain Injuries
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Kidney disease
• Advanced Lung disease (i.e. COPD)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Stroke
• Stress during the initial diagnosis of a serious illness

Hospice Care

Hospice care is similarly focused on quality of life, but within the context of the last stages of a terminal illness or the end of life. When necessary, the palliative care team at Richmond University Medical Center also offers hospice care.

Our Specialized Palliative Care Services

The compassionate, experienced practitioners who provide palliative services at Richmond University Medical Center are dedicated to patient-centered care.

Our palliative care physicians offer pain management services including:

• Medical and Internal Pain Procedures
• Radiation Medicine Evaluation

Our team includes physicians, nurses, social workers, pastoral care providers, and other specialists and offers comprehensive services, including:

• Behavioral health resources: We understand that living with serious illnesses can cause stress, anxiety, and emotional disruption. Behavioral health counseling and medication services are available.
• Holistic services: We are proud to offer music therapy for added therapeutic services for our patients.
  • Music Therapy is an evidence-based approach that positively impacts patients. According to an article by the National Institute of Health (NIH), “In hospice and palliative care, music therapists use methods such as song writing, improvisation, guided imagery and music, lyric analysis, singing, instrument playing and music therapy relaxation techniques to treat the many needs of patients and families receiving care” (Hillard, R, 2006). Music therapy interventions encourage physical and mental health and emphasize pain and stress management.
• Pain management: Our palliative care physicians offer pain management services including medical, internal pain procedures, and radiation medicine evaluation.
• Spiritual care: We encourage our patients to connect to their spiritual or faith practices and communities. We connect patients and families from all faiths to our hospital chaplain or connect patients and families to religious resources in the community.  
• Social service referrals: Social workers evaluate our patients and work with appropriate community resources such as referrals, grief counseling or talk therapy.
• End-of-life planning: We support patients and their families when making the difficult decisions to resuscitate or intubate.

Our mission at Richmond University Medical Center is to treat patients and loved ones like family, and our palliative care services are an excellent example of this ethic. With compassion, dignity, excellence, and respect, our team of specialized practitioners offers comfort and hope to patients with serious illnesses. As patients receive therapeutic treatments, regain strength with rehabilitation services, relearn skills of daily living, and recognize new perspectives and opportunities, our palliative care team is by their side with skills that provide comfort and hope.

Our Palliative Care Services

The compassionate, experienced practitioners who provide palliative services at Richmond University Medical Center are dedicated to patient-centered care. Our team includes physicians, nurses, social workers, pastoral care providers, and other specialists and offers the following services:

• Care coordination: We work with primary, specialty, and outpatient services to provide effective, supportive care.
• Behavioral health resources: We understand that living with serious illnesses can cause stress, anxiety, and emotional disruption. Behavioral health counseling and medication services can help.
• Pain management: We consult with your physicians to help provide comfort and relief.
• Spiritual care: We connect patients with religious services and faith-based guidance at their request.
• Social service referrals: We connect patients with appropriate community resources.
• Home and facility care management: We coordinate care in the patient’s home environment.
• End-of-life planning: We offer respectful, discreet assistance for patients who request do not resuscitate orders and advanced directives, as well as funeral arrangements.