Supportive and palliative care
On this page:
Who we help
Supportive and palliative care is for anyone who may benefit from help managing symptoms or coping with the impact of illness.
Supportive and palliative care is not limited to end-of-life care or advanced disease. You can access these services at any age or stage of illness.
Many people who are receiving treatment to control or cure their condition can benefit from these services.
Our approach
Our team focuses on improving your quality of life by helping manage physical symptoms, as well as emotional, practical and spiritual concerns. We work together across many departments so we can support you and your family in a coordinated and compassionate way. We also work closely with partners across the region to help ensure care feels continuous and as close to home as possible.
Services
Pain and symptom management
Comprehensive help to manage pain and other symptoms for patients admitted to the General and Civic campuses of The Ottawa Hospital, the Cancer Centre, and the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre.
Support for cancer-related complications
Specialized management of complications around cancer or its treatments, such as fluid around the lungs or abdomenrelated complications.
Emotional and practical support
Psychosocial, emotional, spiritual and practical support for you and your family when referred to our services.
Care planning and coordination
Help with planning for your care needs and coordinating resources to support you at home or in the community.
Advance care planning
Support to guide conversations about your goals of care and help with difficult decisions related to future or end-of-life care.
End of life comfort care
Care focused on comfort for patients who are nearing the end of life comfort care.
Transitions to other care settings
Assistance with moving to the most appropriate care setting, such as a palliative care unit, hospice, retirement home or long-term care facility.
Connections to regional services
Help linking you to other supportive and palliative care providers and agencies across the Champlain region or elsewhere in Ontario.
Palliative care education
Information and education about palliative care for care providers, health-care professionals, patients and families.
Conducting research in palliative care
The Ottawa Hospital conducts research to better understand palliative care needs and improve care and treatment options.
Team
The Ottawa Hospital Supportive and Palliative Care team includes specialist physicians, an advanced practice nurse, a palliative care nurse specialist, nurse consultants, social workers, and administrative support. Everyone on our team has specialized training in supportive and palliative care.
We work in both hospital and outpatient settings to support the care you receive from your family physician or family health team. Our team will check in with you until the concerns that led to your referral have improved.
Resources
For information on community supports & resources, please refer to the following guide:
Referrals
Patients must be referred to Supportive and Palliative Care by a health-care provider. Please request a referral from them if you think you may benefit from our services.
Contact us
Supportive and Palliative Care Program
613-737-8899 ext. 78940
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.