Palliative care affirms life by supporting the patient and family’s goals for the future, including their hopes for cure or life-prolongation, as well as their hopes for peace and dignity throughout the course of illness, the dying process, and death.

Palliative care is appropriate for all patients from the time of diagnosis with a life-threatening or debilitating condition, regardless of the patient’s age.

At Duke, we can help with:

• Pain and symptoms associated with life-limiting illness
• Difficult medical decisions
• Nutritional problems caused by progressive illness
• Problems related to emotional and spiritual suffering
• Needs related to post-hospital care

We also collaborate with Duke HomeCare & Hospice.

Dedicated Care Professionals

Duke Palliative Care Service consists of a dedicated team of professionals with experience in palliative care.

Our team consists of an attending physician, a nurse practitioner, and a fellow; a patient resource manager who primarily works on discharge-related issues and also offers counseling; and a chaplain who provides spiritual counseling and support.

Other clinicians, such as clinical pharmacists or physical therapists, are consulted as necessary.

Inpatient Care

Any adult patient with needs that can be addressed by our team is eligible to be seen by the consultation service. If you are interested in receiving an inpatient palliative care consult, please discuss this with your physician.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Abernethy, Amy P.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Oncology
  • School of Nursing
• Cutson, Toni M.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Geriatrics
  • Community and Family Medicine / Family Medicine - General
• Elbert-Avila, Katja I.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Geriatrics
• Galanos, Anthony N.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Geriatrics
  • School of Nursing
• Heflin, Mitchell T.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Geriatrics
• Johnson, Kimberly
  • Medicine / Medicine - Geriatrics
• Lowery, Ashlei W.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Hospitalists
• O'Neill, Lynn B.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Geriatrics
• Tulsky, James A.
  • Medicine / General Internal Medicine
  • School of Nursing
• White, Heidi K.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Geriatrics

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke University Hospital
  2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710
• Durham Regional Hospital
  3643 Roxboro Road, Durham, NC 27704