Palliative Care

Palliative care at Saint Alphonsus is special medical care for people in the hospital with serious illness. It focuses on helping patients feel better by reducing pain, symptoms, stress, and suffering—no matter what illness they have. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family.

This care is centered around the patient. The team works with the patient’s main doctor to provide extra support. They help make sure everyone involved—patients, families, and healthcare providers—communicates clearly and works together.

Palliative care is different from hospice care. Hospice is usually for people who are near the end of life. Palliative, however, can be given to patients of any age and at any stage of a serious illness. It can last a long time and can be provided while the patient is still receiving treatment.

At Saint Alphonsus in Boise, this care is available for seriously ill hospital patients whose condition may be uncertain. The team includes a doctor, nurses, a social worker, and a chaplain. They focus on meeting the patient’s personal needs and wishes.

What Does Palliative Care Do?

• Focuses on the needs of patients with serious illnesses who are in the hospital.
• Uses a team approach to support physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and educational needs.
• Helps patients understand their choices so they can make informed decisions about their care.
• Helps coordinate care between different doctors and healthcare providers.
• Works with the patient’s doctor to create a care plan and manage symptoms.
• Speaks up for the patient’s needs and concerns.
• Helps arrange services and support for medical care and hospital discharge.
• Provides comfort and relief for patients and their families during stressful times.

When Might Palliative Care Help?

• A new illness or injury may change your quality of life.
• Treatments are no longer working well.
• There are no other treatment options available.
• The patient or family is feeling physical, emotional, or spiritual stress.
• Symptoms are hard to control with regular treatments.
• There is confusion about goals of care between patients, families, and providers.
• The family is struggling to understand or accept the illness.
• A serious or long-term illness is causing suffering.
• Tough medical decisions need to be made.

Contact Us

For more information or to reach the on-call provider, call 208-302-5480.