Meeting Patients Where They Are: Donna Butler on the Heart of Palliative Care

In this episode of Better Together, host Steph Cain sits down with nurse practitioner Donna Butler to explore the true meaning of palliative care. Donna shares her journey from home health and cancer care into palliative medicine, clarifying the difference between hospice and palliative care while highlighting the unique role her team plays in supporting patients and families. Listeners will hear a powerful patient story that illustrates how palliative care restores dignity, relieves symptoms, and helps families navigate tough decisions with compassion. From collaborating with oncologists to providing emotional, spiritual, and social support, Donna explains how her team “meets people where they are” — making every moment count for more than 250 patients and families across South Central Indiana