@RNSuperHero They’re basically the same, almost complete overlap, in fact the board certification is “Hospice and Palliative Medicine”

@shycollie They are not basically the same. While both help alleviate symptoms hospice is end of life care for terminal diagnosis. Palliative care can be sought at any time during a disease process and patients can still actively be receiving treatment

@RNSuperHero Palliative Care ≠ Hospice Palliative Care > Hospice While hospice provides palliative care, not all palliative care is hospice.

@diananeubecker Thank you!

@RNSuperHero I know what hospice care is. I am not sure I understand what palliative care is.

@CountSnarkula Palliative care focuses on symptom relief and management but it’s not set aside for end of life only. Patients in any stage of a disease can seek palliative care while still receiving full treatment for disease. Kind of like “how can we help make it easier”

@RNSuperHero The problem in understanding just what palliative care is, (and why under-utilized) is that everyone subconsciously thinks the non-terminal medical treatment they receive (forgive my yelling) SHOULD ALREADY BE ADDRESSING PAIN AND SYMPTOM RELIEF. If not, then WTF are we doing?!?

@planetstef Yes but many offer other types of assistance as well. Respite care for families, chaplain services, counseling. Not just medication.

@RNSuperHero For folks that don't understand the differences. All hospice patients receive palliative care. Not all palliative care patients are hospice patients. Palliative care is about symptom management to improve QOL. People with any number of illnesses benefit from palliative care.

@RNSuperHero IMO, hospitals failed to "buy into" it - for lack of a better word. One system I worked for had certified palliative care personnel etc ..unbelievably not all our sites were educated or even knew about it

@RNSuperHero Well I just learned something. I want to look up the difference. For anyone else in the same boat: Palliative care focuses on quality of life but while you still receive therapeutic care, it's not end of life or where a disease is no longer treated (unlike hospice). Thanks!

@RNSuperHero (Also) Please stop using DNR as a reason to stop/avoid testing, treatments and antibiotics that can help patients. It’s full care. Just if they die do not resus. Tired of getting icu transfers out because they are “now DNR”

@RNSuperHero I wish medical personnel would offer and explain it more often. It is heartbreaking to hear people get hospice a day before they die. And no one I've ever known has been offered palliative care. No one. EVER.

@RNSuperHero @SaraRC1 Some might accuse you of splitting cares... 😜

@RNSuperHero Why is this not common knowledge😢 It’s such a disservice to patients, families, and even the general public to not be taught this.

@RNSuperHero Oh absolutely not the same. One receives treatment for their cancer one does not (example of course ) one’s goal is a painless death. The other is not that

@RNSuperHero Unfortunately many do not know the difference between.

@RNSuperHero My dad could not accept his mortality so I told him he was in a palliative care program even though it was hospice. Please don’t judge me for lying to him.

@RNSuperHero All hospice care is palliative - not all palliative care is hospice! Decade+ as a hospiceRN! Our society doesn’t talk enough about hospice and while not everyone can pass on hospice - there are so many who don’t but could have and had all the tremendous benefits of it!

@RNSuperHero Thank you, it always bums me out when palliative care has trouble getting people to agree to it because they think they are saying they are dying