Sunday, November 2, 2003: 10:30 AM-11:45 AM

Invited Session: Integrating Pediatric Palliative Care into Practice and Policy - The Seattle Children's Hospital Experience

Learning Objective #1: Describe a comprehensive interdisciplinary model for providing pediatric palliative care services
Learning Objective #2: Discuss the decision-making and care-planning processes using the “Decision Making Tool” (DMT)©
The Pediatric Palliative Care Consulting Service at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center supports and brings together existing systems of care in the hospital and the community to enhance care for children with potentially life-limiting conditions. An interdisciplinary team works directly with a child’s existing care team and family. Referrals are made for additional services for spiritual, psychosocial, pain management, and other care. The Pediatric Palliative Care Consulting Service also provides professional support including formal and informal education to hospital staff and other health professionals. Education about communication, decision making, and end-of-life issues assists clinical caregivers to provide excellent palliative care.An important part of the Service’s role is to facilitate advanced care planning and patient-centered decision-making to foster ongoing communication among patients, families, and providers. This enhanced communication results in continuity of care for the patient from service to service and in transitions in care location. The team facilitates a comprehensive decision making and care planning process using the Decision Making Tool or “DMT” with the patient, family, and care team members from all contexts, e.g. hospital staff, community care providers, and state agency and school personnel. These DMT meetings provide opportunities to clarify treatment options and decisions, address advance care planning and anticipatory grief issues, and identify and strategize for community supports and services.
Presenters:Ross M. Hays, MD
Michelle Frost, RN
Organizer:Cynda Rushton, RN, DNSc, FAAN

37th Biennial Convention - Clinical Sessions
Sigma Theta Tau International