Palliative Care
(414) 266-6469
Overview
When a family faces complex or life-threatening illness, they and the health care team have many questions: Why has this happened? What happens next? What can I do to help? How do we ensure the best care?
Palliative care is medical care that focuses on treating the pain, symptoms, and stress of children and families facing complex or life-threatening conditions. It is provided with any other treatments that children receive, so they can remain comfortable during any stage of illness. We offer round-the-clock access to staff who can answer questions about the well-being of the child and family.
The Palliative Care Program at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin provides state-of-the-art treatment for children and families. We will take the time to listen to concerns, answer questions, help with medical decisions and coordinate care among the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's expert pediatric health professionals. We will be with you every step of the way to ensure children receive the quality care they deserve.
We pledge to:
- Help children live to the fullest.
- Listen to your patient and his or her family.
- Recognize that every child and family is unique.
- Respect your patients' beliefs.
- Walk the journey with your patients.
- Care for the whole family.
- Provide information and connections with quality health care professionals.
Specialty Highlights
- Clinical Care: The Palliative Care program at Children's Hospital, one of the leading programs of its kind in the United States. We offer state-of-the-art clinical care with a board-certified physician and specially trained nurses. When necessary, we also refer to an extensive field of experts in psychosocial care, spiritual care, pain management, rehabilitation, case management/discharge planning and other specialists.
- Advocacy: Members of the Palliative Care section hold leadership positions in many local, regional and national organizations striving to improve care for children with life-threatening conditions, such as the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and the National Alliance for Children with Life-Threatening Conditions. Through a large grant from the Center to Advance Palliative Care/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the program is leading a national effort in pediatric palliative care program development.
- Research: Our research program is funded by a wide variety of national and private organizations, and our team has presented at regional, national and international conferences. Our projects include Development of a Palliative Care Parental Self-Efficacy Measure (PCPEM), C.A.R.E. coordinator program on the oncology unit, Perceptions of Parents and Staff on the Pediatric Palliative Care Program. Our other interests include quality of life in children facing advanced illness, spiritual needs of children and families and bereavement.
- Education: We create educational opportunities in palliative care in many arenas. In addition to Children's Hospital staff education in pediatric palliative care we provide sessions for home health and hospice personnel, continuing education for nurses, training for residents and medical school students, and a fellowship program in combined adult/pediatric palliative medicine.
Palliative Care Team
The Palliative Care team will work with the patient, family, and existing health care team to provide expert pain and symptom control, round-the-clock access to staff, coordination of a child's care including home health services if necessary, assistance with making complex medical decisions, and connections to school and community resources.
Programs & Clinics
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