Sometimes the pain and other symptoms of a serious illness can seem too difficult to manage on your own. For those faced with that reality, palliative care may help. Palliative care specializes in the relief of the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness. The Coshocton Hospital Palliative Care physicians, nurses and staff work to ease suffering, and strive to offer patients living with a serious illness the best quality of life possible.
Palliative care is useful at any stage of an illness and is often provided at the same time as treatment meant to cure you. It can help you manage the pain and symptoms of diseases such as cancer, cardiac disease, respiratory disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, AIDS, ALS and multiple sclerosis.
The Coshocton Hospital Palliative Care Unit on the 4th floor of the hospital offers a quiet, calming inpatient atmosphere where you can receive care from your primary care physician and a palliative-certified 
nurse and physician. The palliative care team will work with you to provide medical care to bring you the best quality of life possible for your condition. Once that level is reached, you’ll return to your residence to resume your life, and will continue care with your primary care physician.
During your stay, you can expect relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. Your care will focus on helping you carry on with your daily life while improving your ability to go through necessary medical treatments. Our team of care specialists will also help you better understand your condition and your choices for medical care.
You and your family members will work closely with the palliative-certified nurse and physician and your family physician to develop a care plan that will produce results in providing you with the best possible quality of life. Other team members will be used as needed, including pharmacists, nutritionists, chaplains, social workers and discharge planners.
Talk with your doctor or nurse about the benefits of palliative care and tell your family and caregivers about your interest in improving your quality of life. Then ask your physician for a referral to the palliative care unit at Coshocton Hospital.