March 24, 2021...DECATUR – Decatur Memorial Hospital is offering patients and their families a way to further customize care for patients experiencing a prolonged hospital stay or chronic or terminal illness.

Palliative care is a patient-centered model of care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of an illness. Palliative care is not the same as hospice care, as palliative care is not dependent on a patient’s prognosis and can be appropriate at any point during a serious illness. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative care.

The palliative care team at Decatur Memorial Hospital helps patients and their loved ones establish healthcare goals, navigate the healthcare system, manage pain and symptoms, facilitate family meetings with the healthcare team, understand the disease process and feel supported throughout the patient’s course of treatment.

Goals created by the patient and their family members or loved ones guide the medical team in the patient’s care.

“With this added layer of support, we see a decrease in decisions needing to be made in the event of a crisis. In the long run, palliative care helps lessen the burdens or concerns of family members and the patient’s loved ones as the patient’s disease progresses,” said Alicia Lehman, system director, Memorial Health System Advanced Care Management.

For more information about palliative care at Decatur Memorial Hospital, contact the MHS Advanced Care Management office at 217-876-4691.