About Our Palliative Care Services

Together with Beth Israel Lahey Health at Home, BID-Needham is offering palliative care services for patients and families. The BILH at Home Palliative Care and Goals of Care Support program helps guide patient conversations about coping with advanced illness, and assists with in home palliative care to alleviate symptoms and assist with transitioning to different levels of care.

For goals of care discussions, Cheryl Flynn, RN, hospice and palliative registered nurse, will meet with the patient in the hospital or post discharge in the home to discuss patient centered goals and patient wishes. For palliative care, Tracy Daly, APN, ACHPN, palliative nurse practitioner, will meet with the patient in the hospital or post discharge in the home to alleviate symptoms of distress related to a serious illness.

For referrals, please call 781-756-7780 or email us. Please see below for examples of patient situations that indicate a referral to BILH at Home services.

Information on Referrals

We are pleased to have the opportunity to support patients in guiding goals of care conversations and in providing palliative care services. The following outlines the process.

Referrals for Patient Care Discussions

A hospice/palliative registered nurse will meet with the patient in the hospital or post discharge in the home to discuss patient centered goals and patient wishes. Patient situations may include:

  • Chronic and progressive illness with repeated hospitalizations
  • Patients who express desire to no longer return to the hospital
  • Cessation of curative measures
  • Patient has a life limiting illness and may be appropriate for hospice
  • End of life considerations
  • If you answer ‘No’ to the question, “Will I be surprised if my patient is not here in a year?”

Referrals for Palliative Care

A palliative nurse practitioner will meet with the patient in the hospital or post discharge in the home to alleviate symptoms of distress related to a serious illness. Patient situations may include:

  • Uncontrolled physical symptoms (i.e. pain, dyspnea, nausea) related to the serious illness or to the treatment
  • Psychosocial distress due to disease burden
  • Anticipation and alleviation of complications of a serious illness
  • Patient is open to completing a MOLST document