Palliative Care Program

Funded by the California HealthCare Foundation and Hospice Foundation, Natividad Medical Center established a Palliative Care Program for patients and families facing chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

Palliative care is comfort and "end-of-life" care and provides the patient with specialized pain management and symptom control during and after treatment for medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, stroke, congenital diseases and many others.  In addition, patients and families need specialized services of social workers and chaplains who help patients and families cope with the psychological, social, economic and spiritual crises that serious health situations bring.

California HealthCare Foundation grant monies supported 197 NMC staff members who recently completed an intensive training on how to help patients and families manage issues like communication and decision making during end-of-life or critical illness. The training is part of a project to expand the Palliative Care Program from the Pediatric Unit throughout the entire hospital. 

Hospice Foundation provided impactful funding to equip and refurbish "quiet spaces", including the hospital's first Palliative Family Care Suite, so patients and grieving families and loved ones facing the end of life can stay together. 

Support is needed to provide on-going training to the Palliative Care team and to continue expansion throughout hospital departments.