Palliative care provides support for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses. Janine Petitgout, RN, ARNP, director of the Pediatric Palliative Care Program at UI Children's Hospital, talks about palliative care:
What is palliative care?
Palliative Care is a program for children with serious or life-threatening illnesses. It is designed to support quality of life and prevent or relieve suffering and pain for children and their families, regardless of the stage of illness.
How is palliative care different than hospice care?
Hospice care is used when a cure is no longer possible and recognizes that a peaceful and comfortable death is an essential goal. Palliative care is focusing on quality of life.
What are the goals of the pediatric palliative care program and what does the team provide for patients?
- To provide support and counseling for the child and their family members dealing with emotional, social, and spiritual stress of an illness
- Focus on comfort and quality of living when a cure is not possible
- Manage pain and other symptoms related to the illness
- Promote a sense of well-being and peace of mind
What services does the team provide for its patients to reach the goals?
Pediatric palliative care provides comprehensive management of the child's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs and this includes:
- Care coordination
- Emotional/psychological needs
- Pain and symptom control
- Advance care planning
- Grief and bereavement counseling
- Communication with community agencies
Who is included in the pediatric palliative care core team at UI Children's Hospital?
Palliative care is provided by an inter-disciplinary team of pediatric experts and we have representation from:
- Nurse Practitioners
- Outpatient Nurses
- Child Life Specialist
- Social Work
- Grief Service Coordinators
- Spiritual Services
- Music Therapist
- Psychology
- Pharmacy
- Medical Director
At what point does palliative care become involved with families?
Palliative care is available at the time of a diagnosis or any time throughout treatment for children hospitalized at UI Children's Hospital. it is also available if they're being treated on an outpatient basis.
At what point does a child no longer need assistance from the palliative care program?
Palliative care can be continued:
- In a long-term care facility
- With hospice
- In homes using community support and collaboration
- After discharge.
How do you connect with these patients?
We get referrals from nurses, staff physicians, social workers throughout the hospital. Anyone can make a referral. If a family is aware of the program, they can also self refer. |
