Palliative care is a field of medicine most of us never consider — never even want to consider.

A quick glance at the definition might mistakenly lead you to believe palliative care is another name for hospice care. Both amazing, compassionate fields of medicine provide comfort and care for patients and families facing insurmountable odds and decisions no one ever wants to make. Hospice is a form of palliative care.

The striking difference between the two — hospice starts at the end of a terminally-ill patient’s treatment. It is the end-of-life care that comes after all options are exhausted. It’s about making the most of the moments that are left in a patient’s final months of life.

Palliative care, on the other hand, starts right at the onset of a diagnosis of chronic or terminal illnesses. Like hospice, palliative care focuses on patient’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs. It also focuses on relieving symptoms associated with a patient’s condition while receiving treatment such as pain, nausea, anxiety and anger to name a few.

Palliative care takes a genuine holistic approach to caring for patients with serious, chronic and life-threatening illnesses. It’s about much more than diagnosis and treatment plans.

It about helping patients and their loved ones navigate difficult conversations, questions, decisions and emotions that most are completely unprepared for at the onset.

And here in Butler, a dedicated and caring interdisciplinary team consisting of specially trained doctors, physician assistants, nurses and social workers take a team approach to caring for people of all ages diagnosed with a wide range of conditions.

Such patient-centered care aims to help patients and their families plan for a future most might consider daunting by focusing on what’s most important in their patients’ lives. It’s about setting goals, ensuring patients spend as much quality time with loved ones as possible and helping avoid stressful trips to the hospital.

Butler Health System made palliative care a priority in its effort to provide patients and their families with the highest level of care possible in their greatest time of need.

Over the weekend, the director of this incredible local resource — Dr. Kathy Selvaggi — was honored by BHS as its 2019 Women of Legacy awardee.

Her honor is beyond well-deserved. She is a mentor as much as a medical professional. She is held in highest regard by colleagues and patients alike for her empathy as much as her wisdom.

She brought home to Butler the leadership and expertise she gained while working at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston and used it to build an amazing program in our backyard that helps thousands.

The lives of countless patients, families, friends, loved ones — entire networks of people — have been touched by Dr. Selvaggi and her committed team at Butler Health System.

Dr. Selvaggi is the physician you want at the bedside of your loved one when the going is about to get scary.

Through her work both here in Western Pennsylvania and nationally, she helps the medical community redefine its bedside manner by empowering medical professionals how to open their hearts and ears to patients and their loved ones.