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An Interdisciplinary Hospital-Based Committee to Improve Pediatric Bereavement Care
Jessica M Goldberg1, Anne C Duplechain1, Camille E Fraser1
1Patient- and Family-Centered Care, Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee.
Insights
The death of a child profoundly impacts families. This article details how an interdisciplinary committee at a children's hospital improved pediatric bereavement care through evidence and collaboration.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Palliative Care
- Bereavement Support
- Public Health
Background:
- Child death significantly impacts family well-being, yet pediatric bereavement care needs are under-researched.
- Bereavement care for families after a child's death is a critical public health issue.
- Healthcare institutions must collaborate to create effective community-based bereavement support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the establishment and achievements of an interdisciplinary bereavement committee.
- To highlight improvements in pediatric bereavement care within an academic children's hospital.
- To showcase the integration of empirical evidence and bereaved family input.
Main Methods:
- Formation of an interdisciplinary bereavement committee.
- Collaboration with bereaved parent advisors.
- Utilization of empirical evidence to guide practice improvements.
Main Results:
- Significant enhancements in organizational practices.
- Development of new bereavement service offerings.
- Positive impact on patients, families, and the local community.
Conclusions:
- Interdisciplinary collaboration is key to advancing pediatric bereavement care.
- Integrating family perspectives strengthens support services.
- Children's hospitals can lead in developing sustainable bereavement programs.
Abstract:
Although frequently overshadowed by adult mortality rates and bereavement care needs, the death of a child can significantly jeopardize the physical, psychosocial, and emotional health of surviving parents, caregivers, and family members. Unfortunately, researchers have only recently begun to explore the trajectory of pediatric bereavement care needs. As an ongoing public health concern, health care institutions and related organizations must partner with interdisciplinary care providers and bereaved families to design effective and sustainable bereavement supports in their communities. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to describe the development and accomplishments of an interdisciplinary bereavement committee at a children's hospital within an academic medical center. By relying on available empirical evidence and close collaboration with bereaved parent members, this effort has generated sizeable practice improvements and new service offerings within the organization, local community, and the individual patients and families the institution serves.
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