Specialized Care for Seriously Ill Patients. Peace of Mind for Their Caregivers.

Pictured above: Getting needed support for long-term illnesses.

After COVID-19 triggered a series of critical health challenges, including several strokes, sepsis, heart and respiratory complications, and a three-week-long coma that left him unable to speak or move, Jose Bosques’ family faced decisions that no family ever wishes to face. Jose needed highly specialized care and attention—and so did his family.

His fiancée and seven siblings not only required guidance in navigating complicated medical issues and decisions along Jose’s journey, but they also sought comfort, understanding and assurance that their collective wishes would be respected and upheld. They needed palliative care.

Palliative Care is specialized medical care for patients with a serious illness—including chronic heart failure, kidney disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other illnesses that progressively worsen over time. The focus is on relieving symptoms and stress and improving the quality of life for the patient and the family.

For the Bosques family, the Palliative Care team at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center served as a lifeline of support and ensured that the family’s voice was heard throughout Jose’s challenging journey.

“The Palliative Care team provided not just medical expertise but also compassionate guidance and relief from the emotional challenges we faced daily,” says Ada Torres, Jose’s sister. “In those tough decision-making moments, the Palliative Care team stepped in and took the time to thoroughly explain available options and make sure that our family’s values and preferences were respected, even during the most difficult decisions. This level of care is rare in the hectic environment of a hospital.” 

“At this stage, patients want to know what’s happening with their bodies, what their treatment options are, and what they can expect moving forward. We paint a clear and realistic picture for them, even if it’s not the outcome they want to hear,” says Kristin Forner, MD, Palliative Care program director, MedStar Health. “Knowing what’s ahead—and knowing they’ve got a supportive team along the way—can be a great source of comfort to patients and families.”

Palliative Care is a relatively new specialty, says Dr. Forner, and is often mistaken for hospice care. Although the two are similar, hospice is provided for a patient with a terminal illness whose doctor believes he or she has less than six months to live. Palliative Care, on the other hand, can be helpful at any stage of illness and can improve a patient’s quality of life for days, weeks, months, or years.

“Patients and families who aren’t familiar with Palliative Care will often assume it’s the same as hospice, which automatically makes them think they’re dying,” she says. “But once we introduce ourselves and explain who we are and all the ways we can help, they appreciate the support we provide.”

The Bosques family relied heavily on the support from our team, which came during a time in the pandemic when families were granted limited access to their hospitalized loved ones.

“The Palliative Care team served as an additional set of eyes and ears for us when we could not be with Jose. They were our advocates and ensured we maintained control over his care at all times,” said sister Maria Bosques. “Even when COVID-19 restrictions prevented us from being present physically, we knew that Jose was in capable hands.”