Frequently askedquestions

Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and family. It is provided alongside curative treatments at any stage of illness — not just at the end of life.

No. Palliative care is available at any stage of serious illness and can be provided while you continue active treatment such as chemotherapy or surgery. Hospice is a specific type of end-of-life care for when curative treatment is no longer being pursued. You can receive palliative care for months or years before hospice ever becomes relevant.

Yes. Palliative care works alongside your existing treatment — you do not have to stop chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or any other therapy. We provide an additional layer of support focused on your comfort and quality of life.

Anyone living with a serious illness such as cancer, heart failure, COPD, kidney disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease, ALS, stroke, or other chronic or life-limiting conditions. Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of illness and for patients of any age.

Yes. Managing pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms is one of the core focuses of palliative care. Our specialists work closely with your other providers to improve your comfort.

Yes. Our team helps patients and families have meaningful conversations about goals of care, treatment preferences, and end-of-life wishes. We also help complete advance directives, living wills, and healthcare power of attorney documents.

Absolutely not. We work alongside your existing healthcare team. Your current doctors remain your doctors — we simply provide an extra layer of specialized support and help coordinate communication among all your providers.

All appointments must be made by calling our office at 470-830-2221. A referral from your healthcare provider is required before we can schedule your first appointment.

Yes, a referral from your healthcare provider is required for all appointments. Your doctor can submit a referral through the EPIC system or by fax.

Yes, we offer telemedicine appointments via video call. You'll need a device with a camera and internet connection, such as a smartphone, computer, or tablet. Audio-only telephone appointments are also available if needed.

Telehealth links are sent on the day of your appointment, within 15 minutes of your scheduled time. The link will be sent to the cell phone number or email address you provided when scheduling.

New patients need to complete HIPAA consent, financial agreement, and treatment consent forms. These are available through Piedmont MyChart e-check-in or can be downloaded from our Appointments page.

We accept most major insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Please contact our office to verify your specific insurance coverage.

Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover palliative care services. Coverage may vary by plan, so we recommend contacting your insurance provider or our billing department for specific details.

We provide comprehensive palliative care including symptom management, advance care planning, care coordination, emotional and spiritual support, and person-centered care planning. Services are available both in-person and via telehealth.

Yes, we encourage family members and caregivers to participate in appointments. They play an important role in your care team.

Yes, our providers can prescribe medications as part of your symptom management and overall care plan.

One or more of your healthcare providers referred you to our services because they believe you would benefit from specialized palliative care support. We reach out to help schedule an initial consultation.

That's completely okay. If you no longer need or want our services, please contact us so we can respect your wishes and remove you from our referral list.

You can request medical records through our Medical Records page or by contacting our office directly. We'll guide you through the process.