Palliative Care Consultation Services

Palliative Medicine Consultation Services are available to assist community physicians. Upon request, a palliative medicine trained specialist will make a patient visit to assess complex symptoms and discuss findings and suggestions with the requesting physician.

These consultations are available for all patients, regardless of age, and are not limited to those patients considered hospice-appropriate. Consults may be performed wherever a patient calls home, including RCFE’s and skilled facilities.

Consultations by San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care physicians will emphasize aggressive symptom management and utilization of appropriate psychosocial and spiritual support systems to enhance the outcomes of comfort and self-determination.

Indications:

• Pain and symptom management
• Diagnosis and prognosis discussions
• Developing goals of care
• Preparation and management of the dying process
• Advance care planning
• Issues with other aspects of care that are affecting quality of life

Who pays for this service?

• Medicare
• MediCal
• HMO – requires prior authorization from PCP
• Private Insurance

Arrangements can be made for patients with financial hardship.