Overview

By Mayo Clinic Staff

The palliative care specialty group at Mayo Clinic offers medical care that focuses on providing patients relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness, no matter the diagnosis or stage of disease. Palliative care teams aim to improve the quality of life for both patients and their families. This form of care is offered alongside curative or other treatments directed at one's illness.

Mayo Clinic's palliative care specialty group is made up of a team of doctors, nurses and other specially trained people. They work with you, your family and your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support that complements your ongoing care.

Coordination of care

Board-certified palliative medicine specialists at Mayo Clinic collaborate with a full range of care providers, including primary care doctors, pharmacists, advanced practice clinicians, dietitians, social workers and chaplains to develop a care plan and offer services that are right for you.

  • Doctors and advanced practice clinicians. Board-certified palliative care physicians and advanced practice clinicians work with you to develop your care plan and coordinate with the others members of the palliative care team and, with your permission, your regular primary care doctor.
  • Social workers. Socials workers offer emotional support and can talk with you about personal concerns such as living wills, planning for your future and transitioning to hospice care. They also are able to connect you to a wide range of supportive resources in the community.
  • Child life experts. Child life specialists offer education and therapeutic play activities to comfort children during difficult health care experiences.
  • Chaplains. You may wish to talk or pray with your personal clergy or one of the spiritual leaders of Mayo Clinic Chaplaincy Services. Chaplains help meet the emotional and spiritual needs of people of all religious backgrounds and beliefs. These services are offered at no cost to patients and their families.
  • Pharmacists. As part of the palliative care team, pharmacists help ensure that all the medications you take, whether for treating your condition or easing your symptoms, work well together. They can also answer any questions you may have about your medications, such as possible side effects.
  • Dietitians. Talking with a dietitian about side effects of your medications and any other challenges you have with food and nutrition is an important part of helping you to live as well as you can while facing a serious illness.

Your palliative care team will coordinate with Mayo Clinic experts in several other areas as needed, including:

Doctors and allied health practitioners

Our experienced interdisciplinary team is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to meet the needs of our patients and their families.

Doctors

Advanced practice clinicians

  • Claudia M. Anderson, APRN, C.N.P., M.S.N.
  • Katherine A. Carney, APRN, C.N.P.
  • Kelly J. Christensen, P.A.-C.
  • Rachel C. Gentes, APRN, C.N.P., M.S.N.
  • Rachel M. Kasten, APRN, C.N.P., M.S.N.
  • Sara C. Young, APRN, C.N.P.

Social worker and chaplain

  • Amy Jo Flaherty, L.G.S.W.
  • James (Jim) T. Hogg

Nurses

  • Rachel M. Eickhoff, R.N.
  • Hillary K. Hicks, R.N.
  • Ellen M. Wild, R.N., CHPN

Pharmacist

  • Virginia (Ginger) H. Thompson, R.Ph.