Our Clinical Services
Find out about our clinical services, which are available both in and out of the hospital.
Our Philosophy of Care
Palliative Care is a specialty dedicated to the treatment and support of people with serious and chronic illnesses. The overall goal is to improve the quality of life for people, their families, and caregivers. Our team works with you and your doctors to help provide relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness. This support is appropriate throughout all stages of illness and can be provided along with curative treatment. The Palliative Care team will strive to enhance your care experience at Stanford.
How Palliative Care at Stanford is Unique
There are two things that are the hallmark of our service:
1) Dedication: All team members are ambassadors for palliative care and are passionate about making our services accessible to all patients and families who need them
2) Interdisciplinary Team: We have physicians, social workers, advance practice nurses, and chaplains who are part of our team. We believe that the interdisciplinary team approach is the best way to address the needs of patients and families living with a serious illness
Biopsychosocial Spiritual Model of Care
Our model of care is based on the Biopsychosocial Spiritual Model. This model describes that providing support to people living with serious illness, their caregivers, and families requires paying attention to:
- Body- physical illness
- Mind - mental and emotional distress
- Spirit - existential distress
- Community- Social needs that connection to community resources can meet
All of our clinicians are so passionate that this service is accessible for patients and families who need it.
-Stephanie Harman, MD
What the Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Team Provides
- Specialized and meticulous prevention and management of symptoms, including pain and side effects of treatments
- Excellent and ongoing communication about the illness, and the person's goals, values, beliefs, and priorities
- Psychological care (mental and emotional health care)
- Spiritual care
- Resources and information to address social needs (finances, housing, transportation, food, and more)
- Care addressing caregiver and family needs
Palliative Care is More Than Hospice
Many people living with serious illness, families, caregivers, and healthcare providers confuse palliative care with hospice. Palliative care can be provided to people at any age and at any stage of a serious illness. It can be delivered alongside curative treatment, and your palliative care team will work collaboratively with your other doctors to help provide coordinated care.
Hospice care refers to a philosophy of care that prioritizes comfort over life-prolonging or curative-seeking therapies. It is also an insurance benefit that provides a bundle of services.
Palliative care is a specialized field that can alleviate suffering during every stage of a serious illness, including while treatments designed to cure the illness are received. Hospice is one part of palliative care that people can receive at the very end of life.
Locations
Stanford Inpatient Palliative Care
300 Pasteur DriveStanford CA, 94305
Stanford Outpatient Palliative Care, Emeryville
5800 Hollis StEmeryville CA, 94608
Stanford Outpatient Palliative Care, Palo Alto
900 Blake Wilbur DriveStanford CA, 94305
Stanford Lucille-Packard Children's Hospital Children's Support Program
725 Welch RdPalo Alto CA, 94304
Stanford Outpatient Palliative Care, San Jose
2589 Samaritan Dr, 3rd FloorSan Jose CA, 95124