I recently met with a patient during a palliative care consult. She was feeling good, and we had lovely discussions about what was important to her. She cherished her family and living independently in her apartment, where every day she went outside to sit on the same bench and watch the people go by. We spoke about her wishes for the end of her life and who would make decisions for her if she were unable.

At Atrius Health, measurably improving the health of our patients is at the heart of our mission. When the unfortunate situation arises and a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness, our goal shifts to providing the best quality of life for the patient and their family by relieving symptoms, providing emotional and spiritual support and engaging in advance care planning. To that end, VNA Care Hospice joined Atrius Health in 2012, and VNA Hospice Care joined in 2013.