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Development and implementation of a pediatric palliative care program

Diane Pelant1, Terri McCaffrey, Jean Beckel

  • 1St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN, USA. pelantd@centracare.com

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|June 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric palliative care offers hope and improves quality of life for children facing serious illness. Implementing these programs can reduce hospital stays and aggressive end-of-life treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric medicine
  • Palliative care
  • Healthcare management

Background:

  • Palliative care, established in adult medicine, is emerging in pediatrics.
  • Existing research highlights benefits of palliative care in adult populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for and provide a model for establishing pediatric palliative care programs.
  • To outline critical steps and considerations for successful implementation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing research on palliative care outcomes.
  • Development of a conceptual model for pediatric palliative care program implementation.

Main Results:

  • Palliative care reduces length of stay and aggressive end-of-life interventions.
  • It improves quality of life, offers hope, and supports family needs.
  • Programs balance coordinated care with memory-building and life celebration.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric palliative care is a vital service for hospitals caring for children.
  • Implementation requires a structured approach addressing critical steps and considerations.
  • The proposed model facilitates the establishment of effective pediatric palliative care programs.

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