Palliative care is a specialized team-based approach of care for people with serious or advanced illnesses that effectively addresses the associated physical, psychological, and spiritual pain and symptoms. It can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, includes medical interventions, and encompasses effective advanced care planning/goals of care discussions, education, and information on the patient’s illness.

Palliative care has been cited as one of the most impactful ways our health care system can improve the quality of care for the growing number of patients living with serious illness.