Palliative Care
The focus of palliative care is patient and family-centered care that optimizes comfort and quality-of-life by anticipating, preventing, and treating the symptoms from disease and side effects of treatment. This is done by coordinating care with the patient's primary care or specialty care provider.
About Levos Palliative Care
Hospice of Central PA's palliative care service is called Levos Palliative Care. Levos serves as an adjunct, home-based service for those who are chronically or terminally ill. Examples of these types of illnesses include advanced cancers, congestive heart failure (CHF), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The name Levos comes from the Latin word "levo" which means to lift up or to relieve. Please call 717-562-7000 to reach our Levos team.
The Levos Palliative Care team
The Levos Palliative Care team includes palliative care providers (doctors and nurse practitioners), a nurse navigator, and social workers. This provides for a layer of support to the patient and family, in addition to their established medical care resources.
A shared decision-making model
Levos Palliative Care strives for and promotes shared decision-making among the patient, family, and treating providers. These discussions present both the benefits and burdens of treatment choices available to the patient. The role of Levos staff in the process is to listen and clarify the wishes of the patient regarding future tests, procedures, treatments, and care plan.
Coordination of services
The palliative care team coordinates care with the patient's primary care and specialty providers. The palliative care providers will make recommendations to the patient's provider for symptom management and to ensure the patient's goals of care are met.
Palliative care and hospice care
The main difference between palliative care and hospice care is that palliative care can be offered while the patient is receiving life-prolonging treatment for their illness. Both hospice care and palliative care offer compassionate care to patients with life-limiting illnesses. In short, all hospice care is palliative, but not all palliative care is hospice care.
Goals of palliative care
- Provide comprehensive assessment and treatment of symptoms.
- Assist patients and families with complex medical decision-making.
- Provide support to help patients and families during illness and treatment.
- Coordinate care with the patient’s primary care or specialty care provider.
- Decrease emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
- Offer emotional support to patients and families coping with serious illness.
- Clarify values, preferences and goals of care.
- Assist with advance care planning.
The cost of palliative care
In most instances, Levos Palliative Care physician/practitioner visits are paid for by Medicare, or the patient’s private insurance. In some cases, a co-payment may apply. A Levos representative will help you determine what fees, if any, may apply with your particular healthcare coverage.
If you are interested in talking with our staff regarding Levos Palliative Care, please call 717-562-7000 to reach a member of our Levos team.
What should I expect?
An appointment will be scheduled with a palliative care provider. This can be done in person, via zoom, or FaceTime. At that appointment, your current and past medical history will be reviewed.
Your values, preferences, and goals of care will be discussed. Discussions are most productive when family members can be present.
Recommendations will be given to you to improve symptoms, which may include medications, dietary changes, and medical equipment. If you are in agreement, the palliative care provider will collaborate with your attending physician to make changes to your plan of care that may help to improve symptoms and quality-of-life.
Follow-up appointments and phone calls will be based on your symptom management needs.