Services

At Mayo Clinic, an interdisciplinary team of palliative medicine specialists approach each person's case with creativity and empathy. They meet with you and your family to understand your treatment goals and develop a plan that addresses your concerns. Mayo Clinic offers palliative care to people who are hospitalized (inpatient care) as well as those who have returned home after treatment or moved to a care facility (outpatient care).

Inpatient Care

Our inpatient team works with patients hospitalized on Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota. Palliative care experts provide patients with relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness while keeping open dialogue between the patient, his or her family and the medical team.

Outpatient Care

The palliative care team also sees patients and their families on an outpatient basis in the Symptom Management, Pain and Quality of Life Clinic. These outpatient visits often focus on a specific symptom, advance care planning or the stress of living with a serious illness.

Because the focus is often related to pain, the outpatient palliative care team shares offices with the interventional pain clinic. This positions us to aggressively manage pain with multiple strategies. The clinic holds regular office hours and coordinates appointments with your other Mayo Clinic visits.

  • Symptom management. Your palliative care plan will include steps to address your symptoms and improve your comfort and well-being. The care team will answer questions you may have, such as whether your pain medicines will affect treatments you're receiving from your primary care doctor.

  • Support and advice. Palliative care services include support for the many difficult situations and decisions you and your family make when you're facing a serious illness or approaching the end of life.

    You and your family may talk with a palliative care social worker, chaplain or other team member about stress, spiritual questions, financial concerns or how your family will cope if a loved one dies. The palliative care specialists may offer guidance or connect you with community resources.

  • Care techniques that improve your comfort and sense of well-being. These may include breathing techniques, healing touch, visualization or simply listening to music with headphones.
  • Referrals. Your palliative care clinician may refer you to other doctors: for example, specialists in psychiatry, pain medicine or integrative medicine.
  • Advance care planning. A palliative care team member can talk with you about goals and wishes for your care and help you develop a living will, advance directive and a health care power of attorney.
  • Palliative care for children. Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota offer palliative care for children. Children facing serious illness and their families may benefit from the support offered by the Mayo Clinic Children's Center ComPASS program