Pediatric palliative care at Dell Children’s
At Dell Children’s, we provide compassionate and family-centered palliative care services to children and families facing a serious illness. When a child is seriously ill, each person in the family is affected differently. That is why it is important that you, your child, and your family get the support and care you need during this difficult time. A special type of care called palliative (pal-lee-uh-tiv) care can help. Palliative care is a key part of care for children living with a serious illness. It is also an important source of support for their families.
Children living with a serious illness often experience physical and emotional distress related to their disease. Emotional distress is also common among their parents, siblings, and other family
members. If your child has a genetic disorder, cancer, neurologic disorder, heart or lung condition, or another serious illness, palliative care may help reduce pain and enhance quality of life.
Receiving palliative care does not mean that your family is giving up on other treatments. Palliative care can help children – from newborns to young adults – and their families at any stage of a serious illness. Palliative care works alongside other treatments your child may be receiving. In fact, your child can start getting palliative care as soon as you learn about your child’s illness.
Interested in learning more about palliative care for children? More information can be found on the National Institute of Health website for pediatric palliative care.
Inpatient consultations for palliative care
When your child is hospitalized at Dell Children’s Medical Center, our providers and social workers are available to provide recommendations for pain and symptom management, attend appointments to help you process information and make decisions, or just serve as a familiar and friendly face during a challenging time.
Palliative care consults must be requested by the doctor in charge of your child’s hospital care (the attending physician), but you can ask any member of your child’s care team about a palliative care consultation. Tell your child's doctor, nurse, or other care team member that you are interested in learning more about pediatric palliative care services.
In-person and virtual palliative care
Our medical providers and social workers are available to help with symptom management and the stress of navigating the healthcare system. We can join you for clinic visits with other providers. Or we can schedule a virtual visit that focuses only on the palliative care aspects of your child’s care plan.
If you have questions about whether your child could benefit from palliative care services, please call our office at 512-324-0197. To fax information to our palliative care team, please send to: 512-969-6537.