Patients experiencing a serious illness or family members may ask their primary team to consult the palliative care team at the facility that they are receiving care. Many UPMC facilities have a team on site and some rural locations have access to virtual palliative care services. Depending on your location, most palliative care teams are comprised of physicians, advanced practice providers and social workers. Some locations also include chaplaincy, behavioral or music therapists. The overarching goal for the team is to support you at a very challenging time. Editor's Note: This article was originally published on January 5, 2015, and was last reviewed on December 16, 2022.