Advanced Illness Care     References Contact Information The Center for Advanced Illness Coordinated Care * Hospice and Palliative Care Assoc. of New York State * The Advanced Illness Coordinated Care Program (AICC) is a comprehensive multi-disciplined approach to facilitating advanced illness/end of life care, within the patients continuum of care. The program uses a specialized case management approach working with the primary provider and health care system to integrate a six-visit intervention by a nurse or a social worker into routine care for patients with advancing illness. The six-visit intervention reduces barriers to palliative care by: introducing advanced illness and end-of-life discussions among providers and patients, ensuring support for quality advanced illness care at all levels of the health care organization, and providing patient centered care that encourages mutual-participation relationships, informed choice, and patient autonomy. Palliative Care Palliative Care is similar to hospice care. It is for veterans who are nearing the end of their life due to an illness. Since a cure is not possible, the goal is to reduce the patient's pain and discomfort as much as possible. Palliative care strives to help patients stay as comfortable as possible in a home-like setting. The patient and family's personal choices are supported in many ways. For example, families are able to visit "around-the-clock". Patients and families are also encouraged join staff and volunteers in "life celebrations". These help to enrich the meaning and quality of the patient's life.

Geriatrics and Extended Care

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