i
Loading Page
loading, please wait

Filters

FILTERS

Clear All Filters

RATING

GENDER

CONDITIONS / TREATMENTS

Search for Conditions/Treatments...

MEDICAL SCHOOLS

Search for Medical School...

PRACTICE AFFILIATIONS

Search for Practice Affiliations...

SPECIALTIES

SORT BY

Hospice and Palliative Medicine specialists - Huntsville, AL

We found 8 hospice and palliative medicine specialists in Huntsville, AL. See refinement options below.

Sort By
  • Default
  • Patient Rating
  • Distance

Related searches

You can further refine your search:

hospital care (7) , outpatient hospital care (2) , x-rays (2) , immunization (1) , anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (1) , pulmonary function test (1) , sleep study (1) , cpap treatment (1) , spine mri (1) , spinal decompression surgery (1) , lung cancer screening counseling (1) , revision laminotomy (1) , thoracic imaging (1) , ultrasound (1) , preventive care (1) , spinal fusion (1) , spinal procedures (1) , blood tests (1) , blood draw (1) , nursing home care (1) , breathing treatment (1)

Hospice & Palliative care in Nearby Locations

Columbia, TN

Other Providers in Huntsville, AL

Facial Plastic Surgeons Intensivists & Critical Care Specialists Neonatologists Neurologists Obstetricians & Gynecologists: OB-GYNs Occupational Therapists Ophthalmologists Optometrists Pediatric Dentists Pediatric Physical Therapists Preventive Medicine Doctors Psychologists Trauma Surgeons Vascular Neurologists Women's Health Specialists

What is Hospice and Palliative Medicine?

Palliative care refers to any medical care that focuses on treating a patient's symptoms, such as pain, rather than directly addressing the underlying disease. Hospice care is a specific kind of palliative care that aims to make patients more comfortable at the end of their lives. Although hospice care and palliative care are two distinct medical specialties with their own definitions, they are very closely related to each other. Palliative care can technically be used at any stage of life; however when most people use the term palliative care, they are referring to hospice care -- making a terminally ill patient more comfortable when there is nothing more that medicine can do to treat their illness.

Hospice medicine is professional medical care for patients in the last 6 months or less of their lives. The aim of hospice is to provide quality of life rather than quantity and to make the patient and family as comfortable and supported as possible as they prepare for the natural process of death.

Hospice care is provided wherever the patient lives, whether that is at the patient's home, in a nursing home, in a hospital, or in some cases a center run by the hospice. Care is provided by a team of professionals, which usually includes:

  • Doctors
  • Nurses
  • Social workers
  • Therapists or counselors
  • Chaplains, pastors, priests, imams, or other clergy
  • Volunteers, who help with day-to-day tasks

Hospice care provides medical care, treatments and medications, services such as physical therapy, equipment such as wheelchairs, community and religious connections, and emotional support.

Death can be a difficult event, and hospice aims to help tend to the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients at this time. After death, hospice often continues to support the family through the logistics of the funeral and any religious services as well as their grief process.