Palliative Care Team Roles & Responsibilities
Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with serious illnesses by addressing their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Rather than aiming to cure illness, palliative care provides relief from symptoms, stress, and complex decision-making, often alongside a patient’s curative treatments.
Below are the key roles and responsibilities of the palliative care team, including physicians, nurses, social workers, coordinators, and other supportive specialists who collaborate to provide compassionate, whole-person care.
Who is on a palliative care team?
A palliative care team is made up of a diverse group of professionals who work together to support patients and their families through serious illnesses. This interdisciplinary team addresses not just a patient’s physical symptoms, but also their emotional and social needs, ensuring care is both compassionate and comprehensive. Depending on the setting and patient needs, there may be multiple specialists in each role. Team members typically include physicians, nurses, social workers, coordinators, and other trained specialists dedicated to improving patient quality of life.
Palliative care doctor or physician
Palliative care doctors, also called physicians, are specially trained to manage complex symptoms, guide treatment decisions, and coordinate care for people facing serious illnesses. They work closely with other members of the care team to ensure that each patient’s goals and values shape their medical plan.
Palliative care nurse
Palliative care nurses provide hands-on support to manage patient’s symptoms, monitor changes in their condition, and ensure comfort throughout the course of illness. Nurses, sometimes called advanced practice providers, play a key role in educating patients and families about what to expect, helping them navigate care plans, and serving as a consistent point of contact. With a focus on compassionate communication and clinical expertise, palliative care nurses help bridge the gap between medical treatment and everyday well-being.
Palliative care social worker
Palliative care social workers support the emotional, social, and practical needs of patients and their families. They help individuals cope with the stress of serious illness, facilitate difficult conversations, and connect families with community resources, financial assistance, and long-term planning tools. With training in counseling and systems of care, social workers play a vital role in ensuring that care is aligned with each person’s values, culture, and support network.
Palliative care coordinator
Palliative care coordinators help organize and streamline care across settings, ensuring that patients receive the right support at the right time. They often serve as the main point of contact for scheduling appointments, managing referrals, and facilitating communication between patients, families, and the care team. By keeping everyone informed and aligned, coordinators play a crucial role in reducing stress, avoiding gaps in care, and making the healthcare experience as smooth and supportive as possible.
Patient engagement specialist
Palliative care patient engagement specialists (PES) are professionals who serve as the initial point of contact for patients and families exploring palliative care. With a focus on communication and education, they work to ensure that each patient’s values, needs, and preferences are clearly understood and incorporated into care planning. PES guide individuals through the enrollment process and help establish a foundation of support at the start of the care journey. After enrollment, care coordinators assume responsibility for ongoing logistics and scheduling, while the PES team continues to focus on engaging and welcoming new patients into care.
How palliative care team members work together
Palliative care team members collaborate closely to deliver coordinated, whole-person care that reflects the unique needs and goals of each patient. Through regular communication and shared care planning, the team ensures that medical treatments, symptom management, emotional support, and practical resources are all aligned. This unified approach helps reduce confusion, prevent gaps in care, and provide consistent support, whether the patient is at home, in the hospital, or in another care setting. By working together, the team helps patients and families feel heard, understood, and supported throughout their journey.
Choosing a palliative care team
Selecting the right palliative care team is an important step in ensuring that you or your loved one receives compassionate, personalized support through a serious illness. Look for a team with experience, strong communication, and a commitment to honoring your goals and values.
At Carelon, our palliative care team includes skilled professionals dedicated to improving comfort, coordination, and quality of life. To learn more or speak with someone about your options, please contact us at 877-869-7790 or visit the link above for additional support.
