Palliative care focuses on expert assessment and management of pain and other symptoms, assessmentand support of caregiver needs, and coordination of care. Palliative care attends to the physical, functional,psychological, practical, and spiritual consequences of a serious illness. It is a person- and family-centeredapproach to care, providing people living with serious illness relief from the symptoms and stress of anillness. Through early integration into the care plan for the seriously ill, palliative care improves quality oflife for the patient and the family.