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A division of Hospice of Chattanooga
  Palliative Care Services (PCS) was developed to serve the needs of patients who have a chronic, long term illness. These patients may still be seeking a cure. They may even still be working! Over the last 25 years Dr. Terry Melvin has seen a growing need for care of patients who were actively seeking curative and comfort measures for extended periods and not the traditional end-of-life life timetable of Hospice services.
Palliative care involves caring for the whole patient not just the illness. This means attending to:
- Your physical needs
- Easing symptoms of your illness: pain, nausea, hygiene needs, dry mouth, pressure ulcers, constipation, and other discomforts
- Care for other conditions that cause discomfort
- Your emotional and spiritual well-being
- Chaplains
- Bereavement counseling: you may be mourning the loss of a job, the bread winner's ability to work, your own inabilities to do the things you used to do
- Social workers; social workers can help with the paper work, getting things in order, working with other agencies to help work through the webs of bureaucracy
- Emotional support
- Treatment for depression and anxiety
- Spiritual psychosocial support
Palliative care can include care for loved ones that might benefit from emotional support.
As your condition changes, you may choose to place more focus on comfort care. You may also decide to change or scale back medical treatment aimed at a cure.
Pain control is an important part of palliative care. You have a right to good pain control! We want you to feel comfortable talking with your Medical Staff.
We are dedicated to finding the most effective ways to Manage your pain and promote independence and healthy living, with the least side effects.
For more information call 423-553-1823 or visit www.palliativecareservices.org
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