The subspecialty of hospice and palliative medicine represents the medical component of the board therapeutic model known as palliative care. These subspecialists reduce the burden of life-threatening conditions by supporting the best quality of life throughout the course of an illness, and by managing factors that contribute to the suffering of the patient and patient’s family. Palliative care addresses physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families, and provides assistance with medical decision-making.

“Palliative care” is the comprehensive care and management of the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of patients (of all ages) and their families with serious and/ or life-threatening illness. Palliative acre may be complementary to curative or life-prolonging therapies that are being used to meet patient- defined goals of care. DSFH is the first private tertiary hospital in KSA that support such care for terminally ill (advanced stages of their diseases) such as

Palliative care represents a continuum of comfort- oriented and supportive services provided in the home, or in-patient setting for patients with advanced life-limiting disease. Support is provided for the patient’s family or caregivers, including bereavement support following the death of the patient. Palliative care service ensures that all enrolled patients in need of hospice and palliative care are able to obtain these needed services.