Most of us have experienced a friend or relative who has been seriously ill.  You know then that seriously ill patients often juggle many doctor visits, complicated medication schedules, and care instructions. They also experience a range of emotions that comes with navigating complex condition management. Serious illness can also affect patients financially, because it’s common for people with these conditions to end up in the hospital or emergency room on multiple occasions.

William Logan, MD, Medical Director of Palliative Care at Carelon Health, takes us through the benefits of enrolling in a palliative care program, the purpose of which is to improve patient well-being and provide comprehensive, wrap-around support throughout their treatment journey.  Carelon Health has the largest in-home palliative care program in the United States, which is covered by most insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.

He also discusses transition to hospice care.

What is extremely important is to have an Advanced Care Directive – directions you agree on with your trusted health professional outlining what treatment you want and don’t want when you are not able to make those decisions on your own.  It’s best to create the Directive now, when you are healthy.