Development of a pediatric palliative care team.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has provided clinical recommendations for palliative care needs of children. This article outlines the steps involved in implementing a pediatric palliative care program in a Midwest pediatric magnet health care facility. The development of a Pediatric Advanced Comfort Care Team was supported by hospital administration and funded through grants. Challenges included the development of collaborative relationships with health care professionals from specialty areas. Pediatric Advanced Comfort Care Team services, available from the time of diagnosis, are provided by a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals and individualized on the basis of needs expressed by each child and his or her family.
Ward-Smith
Peggy
P
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing, MO 64108, USA. wardsmithp@umkc.edu
Linn
Jill Burris
JB
Korphage
Rebecca M
RM
Christenson
Kathy
K
Hutto
C J
CJ
Hubble
Christopher L
CL
D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010166:Palliative Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life