PALC 620 DISEASE STATE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT IN PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE
Pediatric palliative care is a holistic approach aimed at addressing the complex issues related to the care of children and families facing chronic life limiting illnesses. The needs of children are unique and often quite different from those of adults receiving palliative care. In this, the first of four courses in a series, participants will learn to identify pediatric patients appropriate for palliative care and/or hospice care, including those with a life-threatening condition, conditions where early death is inevitable, progressive but chronic conditions without curative treatment options, and irreversible but non-progressive conditions with complex healthcare needs. For each of these situations, participants will learn about the presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, and management of common disease states, identify developmental issues that impact pediatric palliative care, and demonstrate age-appropriate comprehensive evaluation and assessment. Special attention will be devoted to the identification and care of perinatal/neonatal patients who would benefit from palliative care. The interdisciplinary approach to managing the needs of the pediatric patient, family and caregivers will be addressed, and best practices for the interprofessional pediatric palliative care team.