Facing a serious condition or illness can be difficult.  Sometimes it is hard to even know how to start thinking or talking about it.  But you don’t have to face this alone; HMSA has created a new program to support you and your family.

What is Supportive Care?

Supportive care is specialized medical care for people with serious, potentially life-threatening conditions.  It is care aimed at maximizing your comfort and well-being and to help you and your family navigate through an often confusing and complex medical system.

Supportive care services are available for 90 days per 12 months and are provided by a team of professionals, doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and aides, all of whom can visit you in your home so you can conserve your energy for things that bring you joy and satisfaction.

The Supportive Care teams are based within hospices throughout the state.  However, Supportive Care is NOT hospice care and your hospice benefits are never accessed in Supportive Care.

What Can Supportive Care Do For You?

Help your health care team understand who you are and what is most important to you

Everyone is different; you are unique and we want to make sure you are treated how you want to be treated and towards the goals you feel are most important.

That takes time and conversations.  The Supportive Care team is good at this and can help guide you in clarifying and communicating what matters to you the most.

Help you understand your condition and your treatment options so you can make the best choices

The team will spend time exploring and explaining your options for care.  If you have questions they cannot answer they will help get you the answers from your specialists.

Get uncomfortable symptoms under control so you can live as well as possible even in the face of serious health challenges

Supportive Care team members are experts in all the ways you might need comfort:

Physical, like relief of pain or difficulty breathing

Emotional, like feeling anxious or fearful

Psychological, like feeling depressed or worthless

Spiritual, like not understanding why bad things are happening to you

Coordinate your care among all your healthcare providers so your treatments occur smoothly

Having a serious illness can be so confusing; so many different doctors or nurses to see, many treatments and medications.  It is hard to keep it all straight.  But keeping it all straight and having all your healthcare providers in sync can maximize your chances for the best outcomes possible.  And best outcomes are what we are striving for.

Availability either in person or by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you are never without support

People who know your plan of care will be available by phone whenever an issue arises.  They will make home visits on a regular basis as often as your condition requires.

What conditions qualify for Supportive Care services?

• Cancer
• Congestive heart failure

If you are interested in Supportive Care or have questions about whether you might qualify, please call our office at 885-7547 for more information.