The Pediatric Palliative Care Team

What makes palliative care so unique? Together, members of the palliative care team take the time to get to know both your child and your family. Because every child and family has individual needs, you may meet and work with different members of the team at different times.

One of the team’s main goals is to make sure that everyone considers the family’s situation and how to make their journey a bit easier. This may include symptom management, communication, and family support.

The Typical Palliative Care Team 

Doctor: The palliative care doctor is a palliative care specialist who also has training in pediatrics. In addition to palliative care, he/she may have another area of specialty within pediatrics (such as neonatology or oncology). The doctor’s role is to offer insight into the management of symptoms (such as pain, trouble breathing and nausea), and to guide the team in understanding the medical aspects of the child’s condition.

Nurse Practitioner: The palliative care nurse practitioner plays an important role by managing symptoms and for caring for the entire family. Palliative care nurse practitioners are skilled in guiding families through the complex situations of hospitalization and care at home.

Nurse Coordinator: Palliative care nurse coordinators have knowledge of resources within the hospital and the community. They generally have experience working with agencies that provide children with nursing care, equipment and therapies to improve quality of life. They also have a good sense of how to help other health care providers work together.

Social worker: Pediatric palliative care social workers help children and their families cope with the trauma of illness. They may help access mental health services for patients, their parents and their siblings. They are also often aware of resources that help with financial and other issues.

Child life specialist: Child life specialists help children understand their illness. They use play, dialogue, art, music writing exercises and other approaches. Often they become the child’s “safe harbor” and closest source of support. In addition, child life therapists help brothers and sisters process their own experience of having an ill sibling.

Others: Pediatric palliative care teams may also include pharmacists, art and music therapists, chaplains, psychologists, rehabilitation therapists, dietitians and more.