Pediatric Palliative Care Consultation

Socioeconomic Status and Health Services Utilization for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions Liable to Receive Nurse‐Led Services: A Cross‐Sectional Study

“…However, this challenge cannot be addressed by taking the traditional curative approach towards acute processes. Instead, health services must be reoriented to provide comprehensive, person‐centered caring that includes not only treatment of the disease, but also the management of symptoms, promotion of self‐care, and attention to outcomes that are important to the patient (such as quality of life, relief of symptoms, and maintaining the patient's dignity in the final phases of life; Moore & Sheetz, ). Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is needed in many of these situations, although there is great variability in the provision of these services.…”

A Parent’s Journey: Incorporating Principles of Palliative Care into Practice for Children with Chronic Neurologic Diseases

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] (Table 1) In the last ten years, there has been rapid growth of pediatric palliative care programs, suggesting that pediatric palliative care is becoming the standard of practice for children with serious illnesses. 13 The World Health Organization states palliative care -makes use of available community resources‖ and -can be provided in tertiary care facilities, in community health centres, and even in children's homes.‖ 14 While there are many different facets of palliative care medicine, the overall goal is to use a holistic interdisciplinary approach to optimize the quality of life and minimize suffering for children with potentially life limiting illnesses.…”

“…3 Therefore, all health care providers who care for children with potentially life limiting illnesses should consider invoking general principles of palliative care or, if available, consultation with a palliative care team early in the disease course. 5 Early referral by either a generalist or primary subspecialist allows the palliative care team to travel on the journey of chronic illness with the child and family, establishing a long term relationship built on trust and rapport, rather than abruptly joining at a moment in time, potentially at a very stressful time when the child and family are more emotionally vulnerable. [5][6][7] At four months of age, Hannah was hospitalized with respiratory failure for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis.…”

“…5 Early referral by either a generalist or primary subspecialist allows the palliative care team to travel on the journey of chronic illness with the child and family, establishing a long term relationship built on trust and rapport, rather than abruptly joining at a moment in time, potentially at a very stressful time when the child and family are more emotionally vulnerable. [5][6][7] At four months of age, Hannah was hospitalized with respiratory failure for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. Her mother explains, -We had a roller coaster that is difficult to even recount.…”

“…As complementary to the curative model of care, the practice of pediatric palliative care provides tools to assist medical decision making, reduce disease burden, and improve the quality of life, helping families to maintain hope, regardless of whether or not the child dies. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] The following case-based discussion, through the voice of Allyson Brown, the mother of Hannah, a child with refractory epilepsy, demonstrates how the fundamental principles of palliative care work to improve the quality of life for chronically ill children and their families.…”