What is Palliative Care?
Palliative medicine – also called supportive care or palliative care – focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for patients and their families with a patient and family-centered approach.
Palliative Medicine team helps by:
- Exploring patient/family understanding of diagnosis and disease process.
- Understanding the patient as a person and honoring his/her wishes regarding medical care.
- Assisting in shared decision-making between the patient, family, and medical team.
- Providing education about medical conditions, treatment options, and side effects.
- Treating complex pain and other burdensome symptoms.
- Counseling and support for patient families.
Eligibility:
Anyone with a serious or life-limiting illness is appropriate to receive palliative care. There are no age limitations, specific diagnoses, or life expectancy requirements. Palliative medicine compliments any disease-directed treatments that patients may choose and is not meant to replace primary or specialty providers.
Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover palliative care. If you have coverage concerns, please let our team know.
For a palliative care consult, talk to your primary care provider or nurse about a referral, or call us at (406) 751-6725.
Palliative Care team includes:
- A physician certified or experienced in hospice and palliative care
- Advanced practice nurses experienced in palliative care
- A clinical social worker skilled in complex care management
- A spiritual support specialist
- A registered nurse
Patient Resources
General
Constipation
Guided Imagery Diaphragmatic Breathing for Relaxation and Stress Relief
Guided Imagery Easing Pain
Meditation Changing Relationship with Pain
Safe Medication Storage Video
Advance Care Planning
Advance Directives
Montana End of Life Registry & Advanced Health Care Directives
Montana State University – Extension
MyDirectives.com
Planning for Advanced Heart Failure
Prepare for your care
The Conversation Project
The Standford Letter Project
Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
Cancer
Anorexia (loss of appetite)
Anxiety
Cancer-Related Fatigue
Caregiver support
Confusion
Constipation
Dehydration
Depression
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Diarrhea
Distress
Drinking and Eating Changes
Fatigue or Weakness
Fertility and Sexual Side Effects
Hot Flashes and Sweating
Incontinence of Bowel or Bladder
Information for New Patients
Mouth Sores, Pain and Dryness
Nausea and Vomiting
Pain Management at Home
Pain Management (non-medicine based)
Psychological Stress and Cancer
Sleep Problems
Swallowing Problems
Taste and Smell Problems
What is Palliative Care?
Heart Disease
Advanced Heart Failure
Advanced Heart Failure – Knowing Your Options
Caregiver’s Guide to Stroke
Heart Failure- Overcoming Barriers to Shared Decision Making
Heart Failure Support Network
Managing Heart Failure Symptoms
Planning for Advanced Heart Failure
Lung Disease
Belly Breathing Video
COPD and Emotional Health
Living with COPD Online Support Community
Nutrition and COPD
Pursed Lip Breathing Video
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Mindful Breathing Pursed Lip Breathing
Pulmonary Rehab at Home Video
Neurological Disorders
ALS – Breathing Difficulties
ALS – Coping with Caregiver Burnout
ALS – Coughing
ALS – Pain
ALS – Planning for the Future
Alzheimer’s Association Online Support Group
Alzheimer’s and Anxiety/Agitation
Alzheimer’s and Depression
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group
Meet Our Team
Contact Us
Logan Health Palliative Medicine
Fax: (406) 758-5170
Office hours: Monday through Friday • 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Palliative Nurse Line: (406) 858-7971
Urgent after-hours on-call support is available for established patients.