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Palliative Care

The Ottawa Hospital Palliative Care team consists of physicians, an advanced practice nurse, a palliative care nurse specialist, nurse consultants, secretaries, social workers, a spiritual care worker and volunteers.

The team provides multidisciplinary specialist advice to facilitate and support the work of the patient's primary care team. Working closely with the primary care team, patients and families, the palliative care team ensures comfort, compassion and dignity for complex symptom management or at the end of life.

The team respects and promotes ongoing open communication amongst patients, families and health care providers.

The Palliative Care team provides:

• Outpatient palliative care clinics in the Cancer Centre;
• Specialist consultative advice for inpatients and outpatients with complex symptom management problems;
• Support and advice for end of life decision-making;
• Psychosocial and spiritual support for patients and families during life-threatening illness;
• Links to professionals and agencies that provide palliative care throughout the region;
• Information and education to care providers, professional groups, patients and families.

Referral is by the patient's primary care team.