INTRODUCTION TO PALLIATIVE CARE CONTINUED ON PAGE 49 8 SUMM ER 2 0 1 7 PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK New specialty at NMMC supports patients with serious illnesses E asing the burden of a serious illness sometimes goes beyond traditional medical treatment. Palliative care is specialized care focused on relieving pain, stress and other symptoms of a serious health issue. It can be delivered at the same time as treatment meant to cure, or when a patient is on hospice care. Emily Wambles of Saltillo says palliative care at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo helped her family make the best of a bad situation. Her father, Charles Burdick, was brought into the NMMC Emergency Department after suffering a stroke at his long-term care facility.