Pediatric Hospice, Respite Program Combatting Financial Challenges

Even with legislation in place designed to provide resources, several barriers exist that prevent expanded access to respite and hospice support for terminally ill pediatric populations and their families. This is according to Kim Marcum-Mercier, registered nurse at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Marcum is also the founder of Sarah House, a pediatric respite and end-of-life care […]

Advocacy Program Pushes for Improved Pediatric Hospice, Respite, Palliative Care

Serious and terminally ill children and their families often have limited options when it comes to pediatric hospice, respite and palliative care. A national public awareness program is seeking to change this trend. The National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes (NCPPCH) in 2023 launched the Children’s Respite Homes of America campaign, which strives to […]

New Pediatric Hospice Coming to Fruition, Pushing for Legislation to Improve Access

Founders of a new Iowa-based pediatric hospice facility have recently pushed legislation forward to help improve the availability of end-of-life support for terminally ill children and their families. Mason’s Light House is anticipated to open in 2027 or 2028, depending on state licensing processes and funding, according to Shanna Sieck, founder and board president of […]

New Pediatric Center Aims to Improve Patient, Family Support

The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care is fueling the launch of a new pediatric center in northern Florida that will support serious and terminally ill youths and their families. A groundbreaking ceremony for The Dorion Family Pediatric Center is set for Monday, Jan. 27. Construction of the new building is anticipated to complete […]

Barriers to Expanding Perinatal Palliative Care, Hospice

A lack of trained staff and evolving health laws are among the leading barriers to expanding perinatal palliative and hospice care among underserved populations. Populations of color often see disparities when it comes to access to perinatal palliative and hospice care, according to Dr. Marilyn Fisher, physician at Albany Medical College, part of the New […]

The HAP Foundation, CLHPN Partner to Address Unmet Pediatric Hospice Needs

The HAP Foundation is partnering with the Child Life Hospice and Palliative Network (CLHPN) to improve awareness of and access to child life services among seriously ill youths and their families. The HAP Foundation helps support research and education in hospice and palliative care. Through the partnership, the organization will help fuel CLHPN’s efforts to […]

Phoenix Children’s Pediatric Palliative Care Training Works to Bridge Access, Staffing Gaps

Arizona-based Phoenix Children’s Hospital has developed a pediatric hospice and palliative care fellowship program that is positively impacting access to these services. An important piece of pediatric palliative clinical education involves developing a deep level of communication skills to help families navigate complicated decision making around serious illness care, according to Dr. Tressia Shaw, palliative […]

Pediatric Palliative Care Providers Seek to Improve Parental Engagement

Pediatric palliative care providers can sometimes struggle to engage parents and families. Parental engagement can be a difficult hill for pediatric palliative providers to climb. Families often contend with an array of competing practical, financial and medical obstacles related to managing a serious or life-limiting illness. Parents and guardians frequently experience feelings of stress, anxiety […]

Keys to Discussing ‘Hard Realities’ in Pediatric Advance Care Planning Conversations

Many clinicians across the health continuum lack the training and skill sets needed to have goals of care conversations for pediatric patients. Advance care planning discussions are an important, but oftentimes challenging key to supporting serious and terminally ill children and their families, according to Dr. Chris Adrian, a pediatric palliative care physician and writer […]

Hospices Must Leap Hurdles to Provide Pediatric Inpatient Care

Barriers to expanding pediatric inpatient hospice care include a lack of specialized facilities as well as staff who are sufficiently trained to provide those services. Children are an underserved population in the hospice realm, particularly when it comes to inpatient care. Seriously ill children and their families often do not have access to inpatient services, mainly […]