About the Palliative Medicine Program
Founded in 2007, the Johns Hopkins Hospital Adult Palliative Medicine Program provides compassionate, supportive care for patients and families receiving treatment at Johns Hopkins. The Palliative Medicine Program provides care for patients throughout the entire Johns Hopkins Hospital- including intensive care units, progressive care units, specialty floors, the Weinberg Building, the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the emergency department, as well as the Levi Watkins, Jr, MD, Outpatient Center and the Skip Viragh Outpatient Cancer Building.
Our team of experts supports patients and families throughout their journey with serious illness. Our team takes the time to provide personalized medical care to meet individual patient’s and family’s needs, by understanding their healthcare concerns, lifestyle, values and preferences. Through this in-depth understanding of you as the patient, we help match treatment options to your goals and values. We also provide assistance managing difficult symptoms, can offer suggestions of ways to improve quality of life, and our team also can provide support and guidance to family caregivers in their role of supporting their loved one.
Communication— the cornerstone of palliative care—is key to superb care. The team will help you feel comfortable speaking to your doctors, nurses, family members and other important people in your life.
Dr. Ilene Browner highlights the importance of learning and understanding her patients' hopes and goals of care.
Patient Services
How Can We Help?
The primary goal of our program is to ensure that patients dealing with complex illnesses are as free of symptoms as possible and have the mental and emotional well-being, we want our patients to have quality of life and be able to do the things they want to do.
Working in partnership with a patient’s primary physician and team, Palliative care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our team will meet with you and your family to discuss options to enhance your care to suit your unique needs, the palliative care team provides:
- Expert treatment of pain and other symptoms
- Communication and Care Coordination
- Help navigating the health care system
- Guidance with difficult decisions and complex information
- Advance care planning and advance directive preferences
- Emotional and spiritual support for the patient and family
Whether you need assistance managing physical pain, gaining relief from emotional distress, or want better communication among family members, and your healthcare providers the Palliative Care team can help.
Who Will be Involved in my Care?
The palliative care experts will join with your doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to support you and your family through your illness. Your team members will be tailored to you and your family’s specific needs. Your team may include a palliative care doctor, palliative care nurse, social worker, chaplain, pharmacist and others addition to your primary care team.
How Can I Receive a Palliative Medicine Evaluation and Support?
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about JHU Palliative Medicine Services, you can ask your health care provider to place a referral. A physician order is needed to make an appointment.
To make an appointment, please call 410-614-9892
You or your healthcare provider can call our clinic at 410-955-8307 for more information
Pediatric Palliative Care
The Harriet Lane Compassionate Care program specializes in the care of children with life-limiting or terminal conditions and their families.
Our goal is to achieve the best possible quality of life for the child and family, and to support the child and family through their illness. Our services include pain and symptom control, psychosocial and spiritual support, advance care planning and bereavement support.
For more information about the supportive services offered by Harriet Lane Compassionate Care, please contact a member of the team at 410-614-4750.
Medical Oncologist and Director of Palliative Care for Johns Hopkins Medicine Dr. Thomas Smith discusses the role of survivorship care for patients living with advanced cancer, tips for staying healthy and living well for as long as possible, what to expect going forward, when treatment should stop, and how friends and family can be supportive.
Download “The Guiding Light between Shorelines”
Contact Us
Adult Patients
If you or a family member is in need of palliative care services, ask a doctor providing care, a nurse or other health care provider to contact us.
If you are an active patient in our outpatient service, please connect with your palliative provider through MyChart.
Pediatric Patients
Please contact the Pediatric Palliative team by calling 410-614-4750 or emailing Harriet Lane Compassionate Care.
Health Care Providers
Health care providers should call 410-614-9892 to make an appointment. Referrals can also be placed via EPIC order. Please call 410-955-8305 for questions.