Our Supportive Care team works with your primary healthcare provider and specialists as an additional layer of care to address your personal healthcare needs and choices.
As a patient in supportive care, you and/or your family may receive visits or phone calls from a nurse practitioner, a nurse, or a social worker. Supportive care offers visits at FHN offices and at FHN Memorial Hospital, in long-term care facilities, and in your home if you are unable to travel to the clinic due to physical disabilities or distressing symptoms.
Symptoms of serious illnesses can cause unnecessary discomfort. Supportive Care can help manage:
The Supportive Care team can assist you in understanding your options and documenting your personal choices for advanced care. Advance directives include identifying a healthcare power of attorney who will act as your voice if you are unable to do so in any healthcare setting. Advance directives also include decisions on resuscitation, intubation, hospitalization preferences, and artificial nutrition.
Listen to Dr. Pedersen talk about Advance Directives on the Dial-a-Doc radio program.
You can be a patient with Supportive Care while you are receiving any level of treatment, including actively seeking a cure for your illness. You can work with Supportive Care at any stage of your illness from initial diagnosis to late-stage illness.
Supportive Care is not the same as hospice care. Hospice care is appropriate for people with end-stage illnesses who are no longer seeking curative or invasive treatments and are choosing comfort-focused care. The Supportive Care team can assist with a transition to hospice care when you are ready.
Please call with any questions or to make a referral:
815-599-7110
