Palliative Care
A nurse talking with two people.

Palliative Care

The Palliative Care Consumer and Professional Information and Education Program is located in the Bureau of Regulatory Operations. The purpose of the program is to maximize the effectiveness of palliative care initiatives in this state by ensuring that comprehensive and accurate information and education on palliative care is available to health care facilities, other health care providers, and the public.

What is Palliative Care?

"Palliative care" means specialized care for a patient of any age who has been diagnosed with a serious or life-threatening illness that is provided at any stage of the illness by an interdisciplinary team working in consultation with other health care professionals, including those who may be seeking to cure the illness and that aims to do all of the following:

  • Relieve the symptoms, stress, and suffering resulting from the illness; 
  • Improve the quality of life of the patient and the patient's family;
  • Address the patient's physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs; and
  • Facilitate patient autonomy, access to information, and medical decision making.   ​

Specific health care facilities in Ohio will be required to establish a system for identifying patients or residents who could benefit from palliative care and provide information on palliative care to patients and residents who could benefit from palliative care. These facilities include:


Palliative Care Education Resources for the Public


Palliative Care Resources for Health Care Providers