Palliative Care

Palliative Care is a medical specialty that cares for patients with serious illnesses and their families. It is patient-centered and family-engaged medical care that focuses on enhancing quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. The palliative care team works along with the primary medical care team to support a child and family throughout their journey with a serious illness, beginning at diagnosis.

Services We Offer

  • Expert pain and symptom management
  • Guidance through complex medical decisions
  • Education of complex medical conditions and treatment options
  • Identification of resources to navigate the healthcare system
  • Support effective communication between child, family and medical providers
  • Help families make medical decisions and set goals based on their preferences, beliefs, and values
  • Partners with patients, families, and physicians to develop a care plan to treat the underlying illness while easing its impact on the patient and the family
  • Assistance with spiritual needs
  • Provide grief and bereavement support services
  • Management of the social and practical challenges of a serious illness
  • Coordination of care between home and hospital

Conditions the Palliative Care Team Treats

Any patient with a medical condition that is chronic, life-threatening or life-limiting would benefit from palliative care. This may include, but not be limited to, children with:

  • Genetic conditions
  • Nervous system diseases
  • Cancer
  • Heart conditions
  • Lung disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Prematurity
  • Organ transplants

More Care Team Members

Photo of Jessica Bullinton

Jessica Bullington, RN

Program Specialist

Bill Jewel 

Bill Jewell

Chaplain