Palliative Care
In the Community
Support Where Patients Live
Community based palliative care is designed to improve the quality of life for patients with serious illness who are not currently admitted to a hospital. Typically, a referral is made through a patient's primary care physician or specialist, but referrals can also be made by a patient or family member calling Arkansas Palliative Care direct at 501-748-3388.
Home visits are made within 7 days of the referral, and are repeated based on each patient's plan of care. Community based palliative care is not a replacement for the patient's primary care provider, but rather monitors a patient's symptoms and makes recommendations to help manage care.
The benefits of community based care are many, but include:
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Reduced hospital readmissions or ER visits
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Improved pain and symptom control
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Improved patient and family satisfaction with care
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Patient and caregiver educational resources
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Better care coordination
The Arkansas Palliative Care team can provide an extra layer of support for patients, of any age, with serious illness - whatever the diagnosis, at any stage, along with curative treatment options.
Consider Palliative Care In Home or Patient Residence When:
• Multiple hospital or emergency room visits.
• High disease burden.
• Declining functional or cognitive ability.