Palliative Services
Panhandle Palliative Services improves quality of life
- Managing your symptoms
- Achieving life goals despite advanced disease
- Planning for your future care
Note: Palliative Services are only offered in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties.
Understanding the advantages of Panhandle Palliative Services
Panhandle Palliative Services are focused on providing relief from the pain, stress, anxiety and other symptoms of an advanced illness – whatever the diagnosis. Counseling is also offered to provide emotional and spiritual support for the patient and family. By managing physical and emotional discomfort, Panhandle Palliative Services can vastly improve quality of life.
You can receive Panhandle Palliative Services in combination with any curative treatments or therapies. In fact, our palliative services can be very effective in relieving side effects of curative treatments, including nausea, constipation and insomnia.
Panhandle Palliative Services brings personalized care to your door with:
- In-home visits from a nurse practitioner and social worker (if needed)
- Coordination with your doctors to manage changes in your symptoms without additional trips to the doctor’s office or hospital
- Connections to the resources you need to support your desired lifestyle
- 24/7 phone support for urgent needs and questions.
As an advanced illness progresses, your needs can change quickly. Our expert team knows what you can anticipate during the course of different diseases and will help you plan care that adjusts to your needs. Care planning also includes meeting goals for the lifestyle you want to live despite serious illness. In addition, advance directives make sure your care wishes are known and followed if you’re unable to speak for yourself.
You should talk to your doctor about Panhandle Palliative Services if:
- You have advanced disease and live in Berkeley or Jefferson County in West Virginia
- You have uncontrolled pain or other symptoms from your illness
- You are frequently hospitalized because of your disease
- You make frequent trips to the emergency room when symptoms flare up
There are a variety of ways Panhandle Palliative Services are paid for – including certain services covered by Medicare Part B. All insurance plans will be billed. If you have concerns about the cost or coverage by your insurance plan for Panhandle Palliative Services, a member of our team can help you determine if there will be out-of-pocket costs. Call 304.264.0406 and ask about palliative care coverage.
How Is Hospice Care Different than Panhandle Palliative Services?
A side-by-side comparison for caregivers
Hospice Care
Life expectancy less than six months
All diagnoses
Palliative Care
Life expectancy more than six months
Any diagnosis with need for symptom management, goal clarification or connection to community resources
Hospice Care
No
Palliative Care
Yes
Hospice Care
Doctors
Nurse practitioners
Nurses
Personal care aides
Clinical social workers
Chaplains
Trained volunteers
Palliative Care
Specially trained nurse practitioner
Clinical social worker, if needed
Hospice Care
Home visits from once every two weeks to multiple visits each week
24/7 phone support and visits when needed
Palliative Care
Varies based on care needs, but typically on a monthly basis
24/7 phone support for urgent needs and any questions
Hospice Care
Medicare
WV Medicaid
Private insurance plans
Self-pay
Palliative Care
All insurance plans will be billed
Hospice Care
Berkeley, Hampshire, Jefferson and Morgan counties
Private homes or residences, nursing homes, assisted living facilities or hospice inpatient facility
Palliative Care
Berkeley and Jefferson counties
Private residences
Want to know more about Panhandle Palliative Services?
Discover more details about palliative services and how they differ from hospice care.