Supportive/Palliative Care

At ECHO, we have many patients living with serious illnesses. Our goal is to not only treat the disease but to provide relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. This is known as supportive care or palliative care.

Supportive care focuses on improving the quality of life for both the patient and caregivers to mitigate suffering for people with serious, complex illnesses.

About Supportive Care

Supportive/palliative care is a newer medical specialty. It is not the same as hospice, which is focused on those who are dying. Supportive care focuses more broadly on improving life and providing comfort to people of all ages with serious, chronic, and life-threatening illnesses. This is not limited to cancer and may apply to people suffering from many other diseases such as congestive heart failure, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, AIDS, and Alzheimer’s.  

Essential Components of Supportive Care

Supportive care addresses many key aspects of your care, including physical, psychological, spiritual, cultural, and ethical issues. To address these different areas, a dedicated team is in place, with each member bringing unique skills and perspectives. Their goal is to develop a strong relationship with patients and their families based on honesty, trust, and mutual respect.

Some of the key areas the team explores include:

• Emotional state of the patient and caregivers
• Symptoms, distress, and management of side effects 
• Exploration of understanding and education about the illness and its prognosis
• Clarification of treatment goals
• Assessment and support of coping needs  
• Assistance with medical decision-making

The ECHO Supportive Care team coordinates care with other providers and provides referrals to other care providers, as needed.

When Supportive Care May Be Appropriate

Supportive care is available for patients of all ages with any diagnosis or stage of illness. Patients may continue all life-prolonging and disease-directed treatments.

Some people may begin supportive care when first diagnosed with a serious illness, even as they continue to pursue a cure. Supportive care doesn’t mean that you have lost hope or have ended treatment.

Some patients recover and move out of supportive care. Others with chronic diseases may move in and out of supportive care as the need arises.

If a cure of a life-threatening disease becomes unlikely, supportive care can improve the quality of your life. And when death draws near, supportive care can transition to hospice care.

The Supportive Care Team at ECHO

Supportive care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with your oncology team to provide an extra layer of support.  Our team is comprised of:  

• Two Nurse Practitioners
• Oncology Care Coordinator
• Nurse Navigator and Educator
• Clinical social worker
• Medical assistant
• Scheduling team

Other individuals who may be involved in your supportive care include a social worker, dietitian, physical or occupational therapist, clergy members, and others, depending on your individual needs.

We work together, and with you, to ensure that you have the necessary emotional and logistical support and all the resources you need.  

Getting Started

Our physicians or a member of your care team may suggest that supportive care can be beneficial, or you may make this determination on your own. 

To begin the process, we conduct a comprehensive consultation that can last 1-2 hours. These meetings are currently held on Wednesday afternoons.

During this meeting, we identify where you are in your illness, your specific needs, and where additional resources could be beneficial. Some of the areas we discuss include:

• Your emotional state
• Your personal wishes and clarity of the decision(s) you face
• Advance directives
• Managing your pain
• Where additional resources are needed

Based on this meeting, we then create a personalized plan for you. Members of our team will help coordinate resources and will periodically check-in and provide follow-up.

If you believe that you can benefit from supportive care, we would love to talk with you. Please call (860) 886-8362 X288.

How to Reach Us

If you believe that you can benefit from supportive care, we would love to talk with you. Please call (860) 886-8362 x301.