Palliative Consult Services

If you are living with an advanced, chronic or progressive illness, Willis Knighton’s Palliative Consult Services are always here to help you and your family. Our goal is to make you more comfortable, improve your quality of life and guide you through challenges you may be facing.

We focus on your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, working with your doctor to recommend ways to manage your symptoms and provide relief.

How we can support you:

• Planning for future care
• Symptom management
• Decision-making
• Emotional support
• End-of-life issues
• Spiritual distress

If you’re seeking answers, relief or support, we’re here to help you and your loved ones navigate this journey with care and compassion. 

It’s never too early to explore palliative care. Starting palliative care alongside curative treatments can make a big difference when you or a loved one is diagnosed with an advanced or progressive illness. Research shows that early palliative care improves quality of life for both you and your family.

Palliative care is recommended at any stage of a serious illness, especially if you need:

• A clearer understanding of your diagnosis, treatments or outcomes
• Relief from symptoms or stress
• Support to improve your quality of life without losing hope

Our team works closely with you, your family and your doctors to provide an extra layer of support. 

Palliative Consult Services can support you through the challenges of advanced or progressive illness. Our team is here to help you with:

• Managing serious conditions like cancer, heart disease, COPD, kidney failure, liver failure, Alzheimer’s and other dementias, stroke, ALS, and more
• Addressing persistent symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, and anxiety
• Reducing the need for frequent ER visits or repeated hospital admissions
• Guiding you through a turning point in your illness when treatments may no longer be effective

Your health and comfort matter to us. We work with you and your loved ones to align care with your goals and values.

Your care starts with your doctors who know you and your medical history. Our palliative care team walks alongside, with specialized training to support you and your family. We understand the challenges you’re facing and provide compassionate care, guidance and expertise to help you navigate your illness.

Palliative Consult Services treat the “whole person” and support your family. We’re here when you need answers, relief and guidance. Our team often helps with:

• Plans for future care
• Symptom management
• Decision making
• Emotional support
• End-of-life concerns
• Spiritual distress

You don’t have to face this journey alone—we’re here to support you every step of the way.

When should palliative care services be ordered?

It’s never too early to start. Palliative care services often begin at the same time medical treatments begin.

What makes palliative care services different from just talking to my family, pastor or friends?

Your family, pastor and friends are all wonderful resources to lean on during an illness. Because advanced or progressive illness is especially difficult, you and your family may need extra support during this difficult time. Our trained staff members:

• Understand the clinical issues you are facing
• Can help answer questions
• Offer you options
• Provide information from a different perspective

Our team has a wealth of experience we want to share with you after assisting other people living with chronic and progressive diseases. We’re here to give emotional support and objective information, so you and your family can make decisions that are right for you.

Where are palliative care services provided?

Our team provides services when and where you need them - in your doctor’s office, the hospital or at your home.

Is this really hospice with another name?

Absolutely not! Hospice is comfort care provided at the end of life. Palliative care services can be provided at any stage of a chronic or progressive disease and are all about making life better as you face your illness. If hospice becomes appropriate at a later stage of the disease, we can help with the transition to hospice services, but the palliative care team is not a hospice team.

How is this paid for?

Palliative Consult Services are ordered by your doctor, just like any other medical service, and are provided by Willis Knighton Health.

Provider’s Guide to Palliative Consult Services

The Palliative Consult Services team at Willis Knighton supports you and your patients who face advanced, progressive or chronic illnesses. The many conversations your patients need can be time intensive. We're an extension of your kindness and compassion to address your patients’ needs.

How We Support You:

• Consultative role: We partner with you to address the emotional, physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs of your patients and their caregivers.
• Patient-centered planning: Our team helps patients and caregivers set goals, plan for the future, and make informed decisions about their care.
• Collaboration: We provide recommendations for your review and work alongside you to deliver comprehensive care.

Criteria for Palliative Consult Services:

Patients who may benefit include those with:

• Serious illnesses: Cancer, CHF, COPD, kidney or liver failure, heart disease, Alzheimer’s or other dementia, stroke, ALS, MS, or similar conditions
• Recurrent symptoms: Pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, depression or other symptoms
• Advanced illness changes: Eating or energy level changes, frequent emergency visits or multiple hospital admissions within the past 12 months
• Care needs: Emotional support, future planning, spiritual concerns, or interest in comfort care and end-of-life discussions

What Palliative Care Is:

• Patient-centered support: Focus on comfort, quality of life and support for patients and caregivers navigating progressive, advanced and/or chronic illness
• Comprehensive services: Includes assessments, guidance, collaboration with care teams and personalized recommendations
• Flexible delivery: Available in hospitals, homes, nursing facilities or physician offices at any stage of an illness

What Palliative Care Is Not:

• Not hospice: Palliative care can begin alongside curative treatments and at any point in an illness. Studies show that introducing palliative care at diagnosis significantly improves the patients’ and caregivers’ satisfaction, ease pain and other symptoms, and increases appetite.
• Not disease-focused: Addresses the "whole person" and their caregivers, not just the disease.
• Not a substitute for your care: We work with you, helping seriously ill patients get the complex information and support that is often difficult to offer within the framework of a busy practice schedule.

Requesting a Consult:

A written referral is required. Our team operates from the Willis Knighton Innovation Center, serving patients throughout the community.

318-212-2596
318-212-2541 (Fax)

If you would like more information or to get started, please call us at 318-212-2596