Palliative Care

“Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.” – GetPalliativeCare.org

“Having an Advance Care Plan for health care is important. Like all planning it involves thinking ahead. Advance care planning involves thinking about what you would do if you became so ill that you could no longer communicate with your loved ones or health care providers. You may be in good health right now, or you may have a chronic or serious health issue. But all of us need to think about what we would want if we were suddenly injured or suffered a tragic illness and were unable to hear or speak with others. WHO would talk with the doctor and nurses to make decisions for you? WHAT would they decide?” – Honoring Choices North Dakota

Honoring Choices North Dakota has a wonderful website that offers additional information on Advance Care Planning as well as Health Care Directive Forms.

Contact Lisa Iverson, RN, at McKenzie County Healthcare Systems, Inc. in Watford City for a consultation and see if palliative care is right for you.
701-444-8748