Frequently Asked Questions
What is palliative care?
Palliative Care is a medical resource designed to improve the quality of life for patients living with chronic, serious, or life limiting illnesses.
What does the palliative care program look like when administered via Palliative Community Resources?
Our Palliative Care program utilizes one of our highly skilled and thoroughly vetted Nurse Practitioners in a one-on-one, “house call” style practice. It is designed to manage the patient’s symptoms while helping the patient navigate their disease. This is a collaborative process which includes advanced care planning to help the patient obtain the best quality of life.
How long will it take for the Nurse Practitioner to see the patient after a referral is received?
Patients are generally contacted within 2 hours of our office receiving the referral. They will receive a visit from one of our team members to explain the services that we provide. If a patient chooses our Palliative Care program, the Nurse Practitioner will see the patient within 3 business days of the initial informational visit made by our team member.
How often will the Nurse Practitioner see each patient?
Generally, our Nurse Practitioners (NP) will see patients once a month. If once a month is not appropriate, based on the clinical opinion of the NP, the schedule will be adjusted to meet the patient’s needs.
In addition, a Medical Director will review each patient’s chart regularly and is available to see patients that may require a physician visit.
Will the Nurse Practitioner write maintenance medications?
Each patient’s healthcare plan is unique. Our Nurse Practitioners will order medications for patients who utilize our practice to cover their primary care needs. If a patient requires our support short term, we do not take the place of the patient’s primary care physician (PCP). We will create a plan of care in coordination with the patient and PCP to order medications.
Will the Nurse Practitioner write narcotics?
Our Nurse Practitioners are very well versed in pain management. However, they will rarely write any pain medications due to pain management contracts most patients are required to adhere to with their physicians. Our Nurse Practitioners can make recommendations and speak with a patient’s pain management physician in those instances.
Where can palliative care be done?
Our Nurse Practitioners are well equipped to see patients wherever they are most comfortable. This includes the patient’s private home, Assisted Living Facilities, Independent Living Facilities, and Group Homes. Currently, our services are not available in Skilled Nursing Facilities.
Can patient's receive both palliative care visits and home health visits?
Yes. A Nurse Practitioner’s Palliative Care visits supplement a patient’s existing Home Health Services but is not affiliated with Home Health.
Does the house call Nurse Practitioner take over a patient's care?
Each patient’s healthcare plan is unique. Some patients are homebound and may need us to become their primary care provider. Many patients use our care when they are situationally homebound and are expecting to recover. In most cases we work in tandem with the patient’s regular physician but generally do not take over care.
How long are palliative care services available to a patient?
Every situation is unique. Some patients will get better and return to only seeing their regular physician. Some will stay about the same or some will decline. Our goal is to educate our patients and their families to provide oversight and goals of care support. For many patients, care can last months and even extended through end of life.
How does palliative care get paid? Will a patient's insurance pay for this service?
Palliative Care is billed just like a physician’s visit, which is under the same benefit as a PCP or any other Specialist. Payment for our services will not impede payment for any other service. Like a normal Physician office visit, patients may have a co pay of approximately $35 - depending on insurance coverage.
