Nurse:
Hi Mrs. Jones, I am the nurse who will be taking care of your husband today. I understand the team mentioned on rounds today that they were considering placing a palliative care consultation. Did they explain to you what that is?
Mrs. Jones:
No, I googled it, and hospice came up. Is that what palliative care is, hospice? Hospice?
Nurse:
Let me explain to you what it is. Palliative care is a new specialty in medicine that aims to care for patients who are facing serious illness. Sometimes they help patients with their symptoms, sometimes they help out with discharge support like hospice. Most commonly they help to make sure that the plan of care developed is one based on your husband’s goals and values and is medically possible.
Mrs. Jones:
Ok, that sounds fine.