Supportive Care

Palliative Medicine consultative services are available for inpatient, outpatient, and home-based care. This supportive care is provided by the Division of Supportive Care & Geriatrics at Allegheny Health Network and AHN Healthcare@Home.

Inpatient services

AHN’s Division of Supportive Care & Geriatrics provides inpatient palliative medicine consultative services at all of the hospitals in our network. Our interdisciplinary team seeks to develop an individualized patient-centered plan of care for each patient. Among the services we provide include symptom management, advanced care planning, emotional and spiritual counseling, financial counseling, and discharge planning when appropriate. We work closely with other members of the patient’s hospital team to develop a cohesive and comprehensive plan of care.

We meet with each patient and family to ease the burden of life-limiting illness and to help improve quality of life at all stages of a patient’s journey.

Allegheny Health Network, in collaboration with AHN Healthcare@Home, also provides inpatient hospice care at our 9 bed unit located within West Penn Hospital. This unit provides excellence in symptom management and is staffed by a palliative medicine physician, a palliative medicine CRNP, a MSW, a chaplain, and hospice trained nurses.

Outpatient practice

We have 1 clinic location where we can see Supportive Care patients in the office setting. Our clinic is designed to provide outpatient management of symptoms that may be related to life-limiting disease, discussion of advanced care planning and goals of care, as well as counseling for patients as well as family members throughout their journey.

For an appointment at any of our clinics, please call (412) 578-6808.

Community services & hospice

The Division of Supportive Care & Geriatrics works closely with our community partners to provide seamless care not only in the hospital but also in the home. With the help of organizations such as AHN Healthcare@Home and Aspire, our physicians and providers can help you transition safely home while being assured of the same excellence of care.

We have several specific Supportive Care programs in the community:

1. Supportive Care Home Health Team – This program is a collaborative effort with AHN Healthcare@Home, our home health and hospice agency. The Supportive Care Home Health Team is a specialized home health team, whose home visit nurses are trained in symptom management as well as in the communication skills necessary to help you understand and navigate your disease and your journey.
2. Aspire – Aspire is a program that provides palliative care in the home through visits from nurse practitioners. These nurse practitioners are also trained in symptom management, and they help provide care in your home.
3. Hospice in the Home – AHN Healthcare@Home is our hospice agency that can provide compassionate hospice care. Trained nurses, social workers, chaplains and aides will visit you in your home to provide care, counsel you and your family and help improve your quality of life.

For more information or to determine whether you qualify for one of the above programs, please contact (412) 578-6808.

Contact us

Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 to learn more about our geriatric medicine services or request an appointment today.