Palliative medicine: Partnering with patients for better health outcomes

Often, when people hear palliative medicine, they associate it with end-of-life care, but this is a common misconception. Modern palliative medicine is a specialized approach that eases pain and symptoms of serious illnesses, helping people manage the side effects of their treatment. It offers comprehensive, physical, emotional, social and spiritual support — at any stage of illness, regardless of curability.

Understanding palliative medicine

Palliative medicine was once mainly used in hospice care, but today it often begins at diagnosis and works alongside treatments aimed at curing or extending life. This comprehensive, whole-person-focused care aims to ease symptoms and improve quality of life. It offers comfort, reassurance and support throughout the illness.

“Early implementation of palliative medicine is not just beneficial; it’s key to a patient-centered approach,” says Patricia Fogelman, DNP, FAAHPM, Clinical Director of the Department of Palliative Medicine at Mount Nittany Health. “With early engagement, patients and their families can take a proactive role in managing their illness.”

Palliative care looks beyond the diagnosis, addressing physical symptoms, emotional health, social challenges and spiritual needs. Each care plan is tailored to the individual, respecting their values and preferences.

Its core mission is to relieve symptoms like pain, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath and sleep issues. “With medications, therapies and services like physical or speech therapy and home health care, we help patients stay engaged in daily life and find joy,” says Dr. Fogelman.

In addition to symptom relief, palliative care helps patients stay strong and independent. It offers emotional support for those dealing with anxiety, depression, anger or fear. By encouraging honest communication, it helps patients understand their condition and make informed decisions. Spiritual support is available, and when illness affects relationships, palliative care provides compassionate guidance.

When to start palliative medicine

Palliative medicine is most helpful when started early — ideally at the time of a serious diagnosis. This early support helps build trust with the patient and family, manage symptoms before they worsen and provide ongoing care throughout the illness. It’s especially valuable for people with advanced cancer, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other life-limiting conditions.

“Some think starting palliative care means giving up,” says Dr. Fogelman. “But it’s actually the opposite. It helps patients stay hopeful by improving their quality of life and supporting their goals.”

Palliative care can be given alongside treatments aimed at curing or extending life, known as concurrent care. For example, a cancer patient might receive chemotherapy while also working with the palliative team. They work together to ease side effects, manage emotions and plan for future needs — even after treatment ends.

The benefits of early palliative medicine

When started early, palliative medicine allows people to maintain a sense of normalcy and engage more fully in meaningful activities. It means symptoms can be treated proactively before they become severe or unmanageable.

Early palliative medicine offers consistent emotional support and counseling. A palliative medicine team helps the patient develop coping strategies to deal with the stress and uncertainty of the condition. This can help reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood and enhance emotional resilience.

Palliative medicine teams help ensure open communication between patients, families and healthcare providers. This can help patients and families better understand the illness, treatment options and prognosis and it allows the patient to make more informed decisions and receive a more personalized care plan.

Additionally, early palliative medicine can help patients have better long-term outcomes. It can help patients better tolerate their treatments, potentially leading to more successful disease management.

Palliative medicine is a truly patient-centered approach that can help someone maintain the best quality of life possible while dealing with a serious illness.