Understanding Supportive Care Services

Transitions Supportive Care is specialized medical care for people with chronic, serious illnesses. Supportive Care is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness – whatever the diagnosis.

Transitions is an extra layer of support that provides information and guidance for complex situations and decisions. Supportive Care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided together with curative treatment.

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When is Transitions Supportive Care Appropriate?

• Two or more hospital admissions for the same diagnosis within 3 months (CHF, COPD, ESRD, CVA, CA, dementia with reoccurring infections), or 3+ admissions in the last 12 months.

• Persistent, troublesome symptoms despite optimal treatment of underlying conditions.

• Artificial nutrition/hydration requested by family or patient where patient has short anticipated survival from their underlying condition, or for dementia.

• Significant weight loss of 5-10% over the past 3-6 months and/or a low body mass index.

• Major function change: ambulation withwalker only, wheel-chair bound.

• Patient or family concern regarding advanced disease progression/death and/or no knowledge of Advanced Directive.

• Metastatic Cancer.

• Patient is a full code with overall poor diagnosis.

• Patient or family requests Supportive Care consultation.