title: Effectively using communication to enhance the provision of pediatric palliative care in an acute care setting.
abstract: The capability of effectively communicating is crucial when providing palliative care, especially when the patient is a child. Communication among healthcare professionals with the child and family members must be clear, concise, and consistent. Use of a communication tool provides documentation for conversations, treatment plans, and specific desires related to care. This paper describes communication theory, portrays the use of this theory to develop a communication tool, and illustrates the use of this tool by multidisciplinary members of a healthcare team to provide pediatric palliative care.
authors.affiliation: Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hubble
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trowbridge
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ahsens
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ward-Smith