What is palliative care?
Palliative care is:
- specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses.
- focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illness, whatever the diagnosis.
- The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family.
- provided by a team of physicians, nurses, and other specialists who work with a patient’s other health care providers to provide an extra layer of support.
- is appropriate at any age and any stage of a serious illness and can be provided together with curative treatment.
The Colorado Standards for Hospitals and Health Facilities, Chapter 2 – General Licensure Standards (6 CCR 1011-1 Chap 02) defines palliative care.
How can I find palliative care in Colorado?
- Center for Improving Value in Healthcare
- The Center for Improving Value in Healthcare's online interactive map helps providers and patients locate palliative care services.
Palliative care resources
I am a medical provider
- State and national palliative care resources for medical professionals.
- Advance Care Planning (ACP) and Goals of Care Conversations tools for providers and interdisciplinary teams.
- Supportive Resources for Colorado Healthcare Workers is a site created in Colorado to support healthcare workers during and after the pandemic.
I am a patient
- Is palliative care right for me? Learn more about what palliative care is and how it can be a resource to help you navigate all the challenges that come along with living well with serious illness.
I am a caregiver
- Explore caregiver resources.
Advance Care Planning
In Colorado, if you are unable to speak for yourself no one can automatically make medical decisions for you, not even your spouse, adult children, or doctor. Because of this “proxy law,” it is important to name a person who would speak and make medical decisions for you if you were unable. It is recommended that all Coloradans 18 and older designate a medical decision-maker in writing and talk to their decision-maker and those who matter most about what they would want.
- Advance care planning is a process that allows people to identify values, goals, and preferences for future medical care. It provides direction when a person is unable to talk about their own health care choices and can help families and/or people that matter understand what to do in case of an emergency.
Data and reports
The Palliative Care Report is a multi-stakeholder effort to re-evaluate the state of Palliative Care in Colorado. This is the third version of this report and is intended to give a picture of the availability of Palliative Care Services throughout Colorado, as well as other key factors to help state-wide Palliative Care efforts. Hospice Analytics performed the survey with financial support from CDPHE, the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance (HCPF), and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
To request a digital copy of the report please email Ian Kahn at ian.kahn@state.co.us.