Rhode Island’s 1st palliative care program comes to The Miriam Hospital

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island’s first palliative care program is coming to The Miriam Hospital.

Lifespan and HopeHealth launched the new program on Friday, which is offered at The Miriam Hospital’s emergency department. The goal of the program is to “bring comfort and relief from a serious, progressive illness that may or may not be life-limiting.”

This is not hospice care, said Lifespan.

“Providing palliative care in an emergency department is rare — this program is one of only a few in the country,” said the healthcare system.

Since the start of this pilot program, Lifespan said The Miriam Hospital’s emergency department is seeing a huge benefit to patients receiving care through this program.