Pediatric palliative and hospice care: Pennsylvania's model of collaboration

In the state of Pennsylvania, a collaborative model has been developed for improving pediatric palliative care and end-of-life care services to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The inspiration and efforts of several bereaved parents provided the initial impetus for this encouraging model. Pennsylvania's model involves cooperation and collaboration among several groups and initiatives across the state, as well as the integration of parent-professional collaboration at all levels and in each initiative. The collaborating groups include 1) a volunteer grassroots resource and education initiative, Helping Hands-Healing Hearts; 2) the Pittsburgh Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition, a coalition of concerned parents and experienced palliative and hospice care providers working together to improve service availability; and 3) the Pennsylvania Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition, which developed as an outcome of a state-level Pennsylvania Pediatric Hospice Care Task Force, and which, among other activities, works with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and several Pennsylvania legislators on pertinent policy and legislative initiatives.