Although Hospice and Palliative care philosophies go hand in hand, they are different. Please see below for some important differenes, all found through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
What is the focus?
Palliative Care: Palliative care is not hospice care: it does not replace the patient’s primary treatment; palliative care works together with the primary treatment being received. It focuses on the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness most often as an adjunct to curative care modalities. It is not time limited, allowing individuals who are ‘upstream’ of a 6-month or less terminal prognosis to receive services aligned with palliative care principles. Additionally, individuals who qualify for hospice service, and who are not emotionally ready to elect hospice care could benefit from these services.
Hospice: Hospice care focuses on the pain, symptoms, and stress of serious illness during the terminal phase. The terminal phase is defined by Medicare as an individual with a life expectancy of 6-months or less if the disease runs its natural course. This care is provided by an interdisciplinary team who provides care encompassing the individual patient and their family’s holistic needs.
Who can recieve this type of care?
Palliative Care: Any individual with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy or prognosis.
Hospice: Any individual with a serious illness measured in months not years. Hospice enrollment requires the individual has a terminal prognosis.
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