At OHC, we provide supportive care to all of our cancer patients who need it. Sometimes there are circumstances where a patient may need more in-depth support and/or assistance to address their needs. For these patients, OHC offers a Supportive Care Program. The goal of the program is to help you maintain the best possible quality of life.
Through OHC’s Supportive Care Program, you will remain under the care of your own doctors. The program works with your healthcare team to focus on a deeper, comprehensive assessment of your treatment goals, symptom management, your quality of life, and advanced directive preferences. The supportive care team also works closely with community resources to help with emotional, social and spiritual needs.
Is Supportive Care Right for You?
If you need additional support as a result of an advanced illness of progressive symptoms, this additional layer of support is helpful for patients who are experiencing any of the following:
- Advanced disease with a projected life expectancy of one year or less
- Stage 4 cancer diagnosis
- Brain cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Uncontrolled pain
- Social or emotional issues or a family member with social or emotional issues
- Chair- or bed-ridden
How Supportive Care Will Help You
Pain and Symptom Care
Our supportive care team members will help manage your pain and other effects of your illness. Other symptoms they can assist with include nausea, sleeping problems, feeling tired or sad. The team works with your primary care doctor and your other specialists to help you manage issues caused by your diagnosis and/or the treatments you are receiving.
Assisting with Family Meetings and Your Doctors
The team can assist you in making the right choices for your care by including your loved ones to talk about your conditions, answer questions and discuss your life goals.
Spiritual and Social Support
The supportive team works closely with a variety of cancer-specific organizations which offer individual and group support, spiritual counseling, and financial navigators to help minimize the stress of a cancer diagnosis.
Advanced Care Planning
Your care team and family members should understand and know your personal goals, your preferences and your choices about your healthcare. The supportive care team members have expertise in advance care planning. Working together with you and your loved ones, our team members will take the time to listen, answer questions and guide you toward completing your own advance directive.
