Our Services

The Supportive and Palliative Care Program provides grief and bereavement services, as well as outpatient and inpatient services and consultations.

Grief and Bereavement Services

The Supportive and Palliative Care Program provides the following grief and bereavement services for patients, families, and health care providers:

• Follow-up program for patients who are still alive.
• Bereavement program for families of patients who have died.
• Family support program for families of critically ill patients.
• Program for health care providers who are grieving over patient deaths.

Outpatient Services

The Supportive and Palliative Care Program provides coordinated palliative care services, in an outpatient setting, for those who are not yet hospitalized for their illness and for recently hospitalized patients.

Patients receive a comprehensive evaluation by a physician-led team.

The team then develops a treatment plan that may include:

• Dealing with symptoms such as pain, nausea, and anxiety.
• Planning for home care and hospice.
• Coping with psychological and spiritual concerns.

The team works with the patient and family, as well as with the patient’s primary health care providers, to help maintain the highest quality of life for the longest possible time.

Outpatient palliative care services are available at:

• Hillman Cancer Center
• UPMC Cancer Centers at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
• UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
• Benedum Geriatric Center

Outpatient Consultations

Any patient or family member that would like to request or schedule a supportive or palliative care outpatient consultation should call the appropriate number below.

Inpatient Services

For inpatients, consultations are available round-the-clock, 365 days a year.

Within 24 hours of the consultation request, a physician and advanced practice provider from the Supportive and Palliative Care Program see the patient.

Members of the team also meet with the family, as soon as possible after receiving the consultation request, to:

• Determine the family’s views of their loved one’s illness and prognosis.
• Understand their medical, psychosocial, spiritual, and financial concerns.
• Assess their support systems.

The palliative care team shares its recommendations with the patient’s referring physician, as well as the nursing staff and other health care providers.

Members of the team see the patient daily during hospitalization.

Upon discharge, the team discusses the ongoing plan of care with the hospice caring for the patient at home, home care provider, or nursing home to which the patient is discharged.

Inpatient Consultations

Any patient or family member that would like to request or schedule a supportive or palliative care inpatient consultation should call the appropriate number below.