Arlington Palliative Care Mission: 
To improve the quality of life for patients with severe illnesses.

This mission is achieved by:

1. Providing expertise in pain and other symptom management.
2. Developing an interdisciplinary team to address the emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
3. Enabling patients and the health care team to define the goals of care.
4. Helping to articulate a holistic plan for the patient’s care, including the patient’s disposition.
5. Discussing advance directives and addressing patient management in a manner which avoids futile interventions.
6. Striving toward exemplary communication skills in our interactions with patients and families.
7. Serving our community by promoting dignity, equality and justice.
8. Providing compassionate support not only to patients and families, but also to involved healthcare professionals.
9. Educating health care professionals on expert care for patients who cannot be cured.
10. Providing exemplary support in the care of dying patients.
11. Promoting Virginia Hospital Center as a national leader in the growing field of palliative care.