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Information for Patients

Palliative Care Services

What is Palliative Care?

An important part of cancer care at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center is addressing the needs of the patient as a whole person. Beyond the best medical interventions, this often means addressing the emotional, spiritual, intellectual and social needs of patients and their loved ones.

Patients undergoing cancer treatment at UMGCC have access to our dedicated team of palliative care specialists. These specially trained professionals are available to assist the medical team in meeting the complex needs of seriously ill patients and their families. Expert control of pain and symptoms and practical support for patient and family is integrated into every stage of illness, along with all other appropriate medical treatments. The goal of palliative care is comfort, and it can take many forms.

Palliative Care Services

The palliative care staff provides:

• help with pain and symptom management, including suggestions for more effective treatments
• counseling to help with adjustment to illness, as well as supportive and grief counseling for patients and loved ones
• help in providing a continuum of care as a patient is transferred within different areas of the hospital
• counseling for spiritual distress
• connection to resources within the community
• patient education, including explanation of services, procedures, terminology and life support measures

Our Palliative Care Team

The UMGCC palliative care team is headed by Timothy J. Keay, MD, MA-Th, associate professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Keay has a strong background in family medicine, geriatrics, palliative medicine and medical ethics and theology.

Also serving on the palliative care team are:

• Nurse: Diane Pannullo, RN
• Spiritual Care: Caroline Silva
• Administrator: Diane Gregg
• Administrative Coordinator: Ellen Butler
• Statistics and Nursing Support: Karen Kaiser, RN, PhD

When Is Palliative Care Appropriate?

The palliative care team may be contacted by a patient, a family member, or the patient's physician. Here are just a few examples of times when a consultation with the palliative care team may be appropriate:

• assistance in managing pain, nausea or fatigue associated with cancer treatment
• counseling to help a patient or his or her family deal with a cancer diagnosis
• spiritual counseling
• help in locating support groups or other resources
• coordination of care upon leaving UMGCC

How Does Palliative Care Differ from Hospice Care?

Hospice care is one type of palliative care. Both hospice care and palliative care focus on pain and symptom management and on maximizing the patient's quality of life. Palliative care is appropriate for any patient dealing with a serious or life threatening illness. Many cancer patients benefit from palliative care while they are seeking aggressive treatment. Hospice care, on the other hand, is intended for patients with a terminal diagnosis (generally when life expectancy is less than six months) who are no longer seeking curative treatment

Related Links

Some helpful links for more information regarding palliative care:

• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
• Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)

Further resources for patients and caregivers can be found at:

• American Cancer Society
• Griefnet
• National Family Caregivers Association
• On Our Own Terms by Bill Moyers

Contact Us

If you are interested in speaking with someone on the UMGCC palliative care team, or would like more information about our services, please call
410-328-6700.

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This page was last updated on: June 11, 2009.

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