Managing Serious Illness

Palliative Care

Palliative Care is for people of any age, any stage of illness, whether that illness is curable, chronic, or life-threatening. SC House Calls offers a full array of services to patients who are seeking aggressive and non-aggressive treatment. Our providers train through an extensive palliative care program and employ providers who have committed themselves to the full-time practice of palliative care in all regions of SC.

Overseen by a board-certified palliative care physician, a staff of palliative care nurse practitioners and nurses, our program can bring a supportive palliative assessment that will result in a treatment plan for the patient’s primary care provider. Our palliative providers make assessments in doctors’ offices, hospitals, skilled nursing homes, and patients’ private homes.

“Our providers do not write prescriptions for narcotics for chronic pain. Mental and behavioral health options are available for patiets 18 & older. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.”

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The goals is to improve quality of life for you and your family. As a Palliative Care provider, we work directly with your current doctors and other care team members to provide an extra layer of support, so we can give you the help you deserve.

Palliative Care:  For Those with Serious Illnesses,

Get Relief Your Pain and Stress

- Selina White

NURSE PRACTITIONER

Palliative Care

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Palliative care may be right for you if you have a serious illness. Serious illnesses include but are not limited to: cancer, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and many more. Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness. You can also have this type of care at the same time as treatment meant to cure you.

  • Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. It is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. The goal is to improve your quality of life.

  • In short, you can expect that your quality of life will be improved. You will have relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. You can also expect close communication and more control over your care. Palliative care will help you carry on with daily life. It will improve your ability to go through medical treatments. And it will help you to match your goals to your treatment choices.

  • The palliative care team will also spend time talking and listening to you and your family. They will make sure you completely understand all of your treatment options and choices. By deeply exploring your personal goals, the palliative care team will help you match those goals to the options. They will also make sure that all of your doctors are coordinated and know and understand what you want. This gives you more control over your care.

  • You can have it at any age and any stage of an illness, but early in your illness is recommended.

  • As a courtesy to our patients, SC House Calls will submit claims to your primary and secondary insurance providers on your behalf. However, the primary responsibility for the account is yours. Please remember to bring your most recent insurance card to your next appointment. Companies not listed will require you to pay for your visit prior to seeing our medical provider. To maximize your health insurance benefits, please contact your insurance company’s customer service department for policy and benefits verification. Also, to ensure that our provider is listed as your PCP. The customer service phone number should be located on the back of your health insurance card.

  • No. We do not accept Advicare, GHI or out-of-state Medicaid

  • Absolute Total Care, Aetna, BCBS (ALL PLANS), Cigna (formerly Great West Healthcare), Cigna West (Agape Senior Employees), Coventry, Choice Care, Humana/Humana Choice, Medcost, Medicare, Medicaid – SC, Medicare RAILROAD, MOLINA, Select Health/First Choice Medicaid, United Healthcare Community Plan (ALL PLANS), WellCare, WellPath, For prior authorizations, please contact 1.888.559.1010 or 1.888.588.9842.

  • No. The palliative care team provides an extra layer of support and works in partnership with your primary doctor.

  • Yes, absolutely. Your treatment choices are up to you. You can have palliative care at the same time as treatment meant to cure you.