Alliance Group worked with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) to support legislation that requires the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to make information and resources on Palliative Care available to the public, healthcare providers, and health facilities on their website.
Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors and other professionals. This team approach focuses on providing patients with relief from the pain, stress, and depression that can arise from a serious illness. The goal is to improve Quality of Life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness.
Cancer patients often face pain, shortness of breath, and other unwanted symptoms that are caused by both the disease itself and the treatment. Palliative care can help to significantly alleviate these symptoms and pain for cancer patients while they continue to receive curative treatments. When a cancer patient’s pain and other symptoms are controlled, it’s been shown that the length of hospital stays are often shorter and re-admissions are reduced.
Governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, recently signed this vital legislation into law. Alliance Group commends ACS CAN and the Commonwealth of Virginia for bringing this important issue to the forefront of the discussion on healthcare. To find out more information about how to access Palliative Care in Virginia click here.
