November is National Hospice & Palliative Care Month

WEATHER UPDATE: Express Care will be closed starting Sunday, January 25, and Medical Group practices will be closed for in-person care on Monday, January 26. Our hospital and emergency room remain open. More information and updates here.

Published on November 03, 2025

November is National Hospice & Palliative Care Month

Patient and Provider Discussion

Palliative Care Team at VHC Health

VHC Health Palliative Care Team

The VHC Health Palliative Care team aims to raise awareness about services for patients and loved ones at VHC Health. Palliative Care provides high-quality, holistic care that enables patients and families alike to cope and focus on living as fully as possible. At VHC Health, the inpatient Palliative Care team offers: 

  • Expert symptom management
  • Assistance with complex goals of care discussions
  • Psychosocial support 
  • Hospice and palliative care benefits advice
  • Advance care planning
  • End-of-life care

These services exist to provide each of our patients and their families with the utmost comfort, dignity, respect, and devotion during life's most difficult journey. The Palliative Care team encourages you to reach out with questions and consultations.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

1. Hospice and palliative care are the same thing

Hospice is a type of palliative care for patients within the final six months of their life. Patients typically must choose to forgo life-prolonging and curative care when enrolling (exceptions made on a case-by-case basis). Conversely, palliative care can be provided in conjunction with curative and life-prolonging care. Ideally, patients will begin seeing a palliative care team at the time of diagnosis so they may reap the full benefits of the specialty service.

2. Hospice stops all medical care

The role of hospice is to provide supportive medical care to patients. Depending on the patient's prognosis, hospice will continue disease management medications if they are adding value to the patient's quality of life.

3. Hospice is a place where there is nothing more a doctor can do

Hospice care is designed for patients with a life-limiting illness. Hospice is not where you go to die, but rather a philosophy of care, including a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who are trained to assist patients in living their lives fully, completely, and without pain.

How to contact the VHC Health Palliative Care team 

For patients or visitors: Visit https://www.vhchealth.org/medical-services/palliative-care/ to learn more.

For VHC Health staff: Call 703.558.5291 or reach out to the Palliative Care Coordinator on Epic Messenger. The Palliative Care team will request an indication for consult and background information on the patient. If the consult is for goals of care discussions, please confirm that the patient and their support system are open to having honest and often difficult conversations.