Call 1.866.204.8611 to speak with a care professional. Outside FL, GA, DC, MD and VA? Call NPHI 844.438.6744.

Call 1.866.204.8611 to speak with a care professional. 

Chapters Health Palliative Medicine

Providing supportive care, disease education and pain management for people with serious illness and complex symptoms.

Improving Quality Of Life With Palliative Medicine

Facing an advanced illness can be overwhelming on many levels. Palliative medicine can help by easing pain and managing complex symptoms.

What is palliative medicine?

Palliative medicine focuses on providing relief from the complex symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both you and your family.

What is the difference between palliative medicine and hospice?
Palliative medicine is NOT the same as hospice care. Palliative medicine can be provided at any age and at any stage of a serious illness. It can be offered at the same time you are being cared for and will not disrupt your treatment plan. Palliative medicine is available for patients regardless of life expectancy.

Hospice cares for patients who are diagnosed with terminal illnesses with a six month or less prognosis and are no longer seeking curative treatment.

How does palliative medicine help?

Palliative medicine addresses the whole person. It helps you carry on with your daily life and improve your ability to go through medical treatments. It also helps you better understand your condition and your choices for medical care. In short, palliative medicine helps you focus on the best possible quality of life.

Palliative medicine can help you get relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.

Who provides palliative medicine to patients?

Palliative medicine is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers and chaplains. The palliative care team works together with your own doctor to offer an additional layer of support for you and your family.

While your primary care physician focuses on disease-specific treatments, our team addresses pain and symptom management. Together, we can offer:

  • Effective symptom management
  • Wide range of education to make informed decisions
  • Guidance with advance directives and complicated treatment choices
  • Emotional and spiritual assistance
  • Coordination of care with other providers and/or services
  • Help with community resources

Do I have to change doctors?

No. The palliative medicine team works with and supports your current physician to develop appropriate care goals.

Can I afford Chapters Health Palliative Care? How do I pay for it?

Click here to learn more about paying for services.

Is palliative medicine right for you or a loved one?

If you suffer from pain or other distressing symptoms due to a chronic or serious illness, palliative medicine may be right for you. Palliative medicine addresses the whole person and can help you better understand your medical care options.

I have more questions. Where do I go to learn more about Chapters Health Palliative Care?

For more information about Chapters Health Palliative Care or to speak with the HospiceHelp24® team about a referral, call 1.813.871.8200 or Contact Us.

Download Chapters Health Palliative Care Patient Forms

Download the Outpatient Palliative Care Referral Form

Frequently Asked Questions

I need help. How do I get started?

Beginning the hospice journey can feel overwhelming, but we're here to guide you. First, consult with your loved one's primary care physician to discuss if hospice care is the right choice based on their health condition. If the physician recommends hospice, they will provide a referral. Once you have this, reach out to our hospice team. We'll schedule an initial assessment to understand the specific needs and wishes of your loved one. This meeting ensures we provide the most compassionate and tailored care. Remember, our dedicated team is always here to answer questions and offer support every step of the way.

For more information, contact us now.

Do you have services where I live?

Chapters Health System is headquartered in Temple Terrace, Florida, with services available in many counties throughout the state as well as around the metro area of Atlanta, Washington, DC along with Virginia and Maryland.

For more information, visit our locations page.

Does insurance cover this?

Chapters Health System services can be paid by Medicare, Medicaid and many insurances along with additional options.

We accept Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare and most private insurances. Under Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare, hospice is an all-inclusive benefit—all services, medications, home medical equipment and medical supplies related to the patient’s illness are covered.

What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?

Palliative care and hospice both prioritize comfort and quality of life, but they serve different purposes. Palliative care can be introduced at any stage of a serious illness, and it can be provided alongside curative treatments. Its focus is on managing symptoms and providing relief. Hospice care, on the other hand, is specifically for those who are in the final stages of a terminal illness, typically when the patient has six months or less to live and curative treatments are no longer pursued. Both approaches emphasize a holistic approach, addressing the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families.

"Chapters Health Palliative Care has really changed our lives in so many ways. They have provided so much and really given Dalelyla back a part of her life we had sort of lost."
—Jessica Maples, family member, Florida
"Chapters Health Palliative Care has really changed our lives in so many ways. They have provided so much and really given Dalelyla back a part of her life we had sort of lost."
Palliative Medicine: Testimonial 3
—Jessica Maples, family member, Florida
"We see patients to help them with symptom management, whether it be for pain, depression or anxiety. A big part of what we do is provide support and resources for the family."
—Beth Allen, APRN, Chapters Health Palliative Care, Tampa, Florida
"We see patients to help them with symptom management, whether it be for pain, depression or anxiety. A big part of what we do is provide support and resources for the family."
Palliative Medicine: Testimonial 2
—Beth Allen, APRN, Chapters Health Palliative Care, Tampa, Florida
"I feel better. I’m much healthier. It really changed my life, and I felt drastically better within a month."
—Cody Galler, Florida
"I feel better. I’m much healthier. It really changed my life, and I felt drastically better within a month."
Palliative Medicine: Testimonial 1
—Cody Galler, Florida

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About Us

Established in 1983 as a community-centered, nonprofit entity, Chapters Health has grown exponentially through its radical approach to healthcare that leverages a one-of-a-kind system to support patients, families, and caregivers across the country, while remaining grounded in the mission of taking care of patients, or taking care of those who do®.

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Andrew Molosky on podcast

John J. Whyte, MD, MPH

CEO and Executive President,
American Medical Association

John Whyte, MD, MPH serves as the CEO and Executive Vice President of the American Medical Association, the nation’s largest physician organization.

Prior to the AMA, Dr. Whyte served as the Chief Medical Officer at WebMD, leading initiatives that expanded strategic partnerships, created new business opportunities, and positioned WebMD at the forefront of digital health innovation. He was a pivotal force in evolving WebMD’s digital platforms from content delivery engines to powerful tools connecting consumers directly to care, establishing critical new revenue models. He is a recognized leader in healthcare delivery and regulation and is consistently named as one of the Top 20 Health Influencers.

Before joining WebMD, Dr. Whyte served as Director of Professional Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. There, he spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives to modernize clinical trial design, expand diversity in research, and advance the regulatory use of real-world evidence — efforts that continue to impact patient-centered drug development today.

Earlier, as Chief Medical Expert and Vice President of Health and Medical Education at Discovery Channel, Dr. Whyte launched educational programming that captured both medical and mainstream audiences, successfully aligning mission-driven health education with corporate funding strategies and building new multimedia brand identities.

At the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Whyte played a pivotal role in formalizing Medicare’s national coverage decision process, directly shaping payment policies and advancing innovative models to improve healthcare outcomes. His experience at CMS demonstrates a deep understanding of health policy, reimbursement strategies, and the critical intersection of clinical innovation and payment models.

A board-certified internist, Dr. Whyte completed his MD at Hahnemann University School of Medicine, his residency at Duke University Medical Center and earned his MPH in Health Policy and Management at Harvard University. He previously served as a health services research fellow at Stanford University. An accomplished author, Dr. Whyte has written extensively for both professional and consumer audiences, including five best-selling book

Andrew Molosky on podcast

Dr. Venki Ramakrishnan

Nobel Laureate

Venki Ramakrishnan is an American and British molecular biologist who shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He currently works at the world-renowned MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England and from 2015-2020, he served as President of the Royal Society, one of the world’s oldest scientific organizations. He is best known for his work on protein synthesis, the process by which genetic information is used by the ribosome to make the thousands of proteins that make life possible. This process is fundamental to all life and its dysfunction leads to many diseases as well as to aging. He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and was knighted by the British government in 2012. In 2022, he received one of Britain’s highest civilian honors, the Order of Merit, which is restricted to 24 people across all fields.

In addition to his academic work, Ramakrishnan is a science partner of the venture capital fund Ahren Innovation Capital, and on the boards of the AI-based drug development company, Isomorphic Labs, and the British Library. He recently co-founded RNAvate, an RNA therapeutics company based on stable, next-generation RNA molecules. In the public arena, he played a leadership role when he was president of the Royal Society, including dealing with the consequences of Brexit and helping convene the Society’s response to provide advice during the covid pandemic and did a significant amount of public engagement including articles in the press and appearances on national media.

Ramakrishnan is the author of two popular books: Gene Machine (2018), a very frank scientific memoir about the race for the structure of the ribosome that led to the Nobel Prize; and Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest For Immortality (2024), which looks at the biology of aging and efforts to combat it.

Andrew Molosky on podcast

Marwa El-Menshawi, MD, MPH

Chief Operating Officer, PACE Chapters Health System

Marwa El-Menshawi, MD is the Chief Operating Office for Hope PACE. She is a triple board-certified physician, specializing in Family, Geriatric and Hospice Medicine. Dr. El-Menshawi's focus is on improving the lives of those affected by advanced age and serious illness through innovation in high complexity and value-based care. She has almost 20 years of clinical, academic and healthcare leadership experience.

Dr. El-Menshawi is a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine and the National PACE Association. She serves on the Mayor's Committee for Livability and Healthy Aging, focused on serving the community through advocacy and education, recommending and promoting programs and initiatives that benefit older adults.

Dr. El-Menshawi earned her Medical Doctorate as a Magna Cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and was awarded the distinguished membership into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honors society, along with multiple academic achievement awards including the American Medical Women's Association Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Citation, the Merck Manual Award and the Peacock Teaching Fellowship. She completed her residency in Family Medicine and Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine following a Geriatrics Fellowship at Advent Health in Orlando, FL. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Geriatrics at the Florida State University College of Medicine and an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine.

Andrew Molosky on podcast

Andrew Molosky

President and CEO, Chapters Health System

Andrew Molosky is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chapters Health System, the country's defining chronic illness organization, comprised of more than 30 different companies and programs, including the nation's largest nonprofit hospice network, PACE, value-based care such as CareNu, a Medicare Advantage plan, managed services organizations, technology solutions, advanced illness offerings, and more.
Established in 1983 as a community-centered, nonprofit entity, Chapters Health has grown exponentially through Molosky's innovative approach to healthcare, becoming a national leader recognized by Great Places to Work, Fortune, USA Today, and others for being a top place to work.
As a leading voice in healthcare, Molosky is routinely engaged as a consultant, speaker, and mentor. Molosky is modeling and leading across several industries concurrently.
Molosky has more than 20 years of experience spanning an array of geographies and organizations, including publicly traded, privately held, and nonprofit. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Toledo and his Master of Business Administration from the Ken Blanchard College of Business at Grand Canyon University, additionally holding his Fellowship from the American College of Healthcare Executives.