Palliative Care

Palliative Care is specialized care that focuses on the whole person. It recognizes that people living with an illness such as cancer need expert symptom management, as well as spiritual and emotional support.

The Hunterdon Palliative Care team works with your physician to relieve physical, emotional and spiritual suffering so you can enjoy the best possible quality of life while dealing with your illness.

The team includes:

• Doctors and Nurse Practitioners who have expertise in managing symptoms such as pain, nausea, and shortness of breath.
• A chaplain with certified skills in addressing individual spiritual, religious and emotional needs.
• A social worker with specialized training in patient and family support through counseling, goal setting and linkages to community resources.

Palliative care assists with:

• Symptom management associated with chronic disease. Symptoms may include pain, nausea, depression, anxiety, and shortness of breath.
• Address psychological, social and spiritual concerns associated with the physical effects of cancer treatment.
• Act as a patient advocate in assisting with an understanding of their disease and choices for medical treatment.
• Collaborate with the medical and radiation oncologist to give each patient a complete comprehensive treatment plan.
• Assist with advanced planning in terms of Advanced Directives and Durable Health Care Proxy desires.

For patients in the hospital, a palliative care consult may be requested by the physician in charge. For outpatients, please call 908-237-7018 to set up an appointment or visit Hunterdon Palliative Care for more information.