Palliative Pearls Referral Guidelines

Patient Population  

• Age 16 or older
  
• Patients do not need a referral to see us

Diagnoses

• Advanced lung, kidney, or neurologic disease
• Class IV heart failure
• Severe life-threatening illness or trauma
• All stage IV malignancies, and any active malignancy
• Any advanced end-stage disease with multiple co-morbidities

Approach to Care 

• Provide relief of pain or other distressing symptoms related to malignancy, or advanced end stage disease sequelae
• Integrate the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
• Team approach to address the needs of the patient and family
• Explore patient values and goals, to assist with medical decisions (goals of care, treatment options, code status)
• Assist with advance care planning (advance directives, POLST)
• Provide phone triage and support between clinic visits

Pain Management

• We manage pain symptoms in most patients with the above advance disease processes, but will refer patients with addiction or narcotic misuse to our Sansum Pain Management group, or other local pain specialists, if necessary

Contact Us

• Office phone: 805-879-0675