Palliative medicine is an additional set of services while on the medically aggressive path that includes symptom management, communication, and learning about patients to make sure their care aligns with their goals. Palliative services are provided while patients continue to pursue disease directed therapy.

Hospice is a philosophy of care of making each day count and each day as meaningful as it can be. It is a team based approach of doctor, nurse, social worker and chaplain and these services can be in the home, living facility, or inpatient facility. Hospice services are comfort directed services when a patient changes from disease directed care to comfort-based care during the last six months of life.