Palliative care can be provided to any patient and family living with a serious illness. Key indications for palliative care involvement include, but are not limited to:
- Uncontrolled pain, physical or emotional symptoms related to serious illness.
- Declining function and capacity to provide activities of daily living.
- Progressive weight loss.
- Multiple hospitalizations.
- Uncertainty regarding prognosis.
- Uncertainty or conflict regarding goals of care.
- Do not resuscitate (DNR) conflict.
- Use of tube feeding or total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for patients with cognitive impairment or advanced illness.
- Family or provider questions about appropriateness of hospice care.
- Caregiver or family distress; need for resources.