PediPals – Palliative Care for Children and Families
Young patients who have complex illnesses or have shortened life expectancy need special care – and so do their families.
PediPals focuses on caring for your child’s body, mind and spirit, and for your entire family. Through age-appropriate and disease-specific care, activities and resources, we help your child, you, and other family members through this difficult time.
Serving as an active partnership between the patient, their family, and their medical team, pediatric palliative care providers include: doctors, nurses, child-life specialists, music therapists, psychologists, social workers, and members of our pastoral services.
We try to help your child continue with school and social interactions as much as possible, and to create an environment where family members can maintain jobs and engage in their own lives.
Pediatric palliative care is an integral part of the complex medical care at Holtz Children’s Hospital and UHealth Jackson Children’s Care. The PediPals team is often consulted early in diagnosis, and becomes a constant throughout your child’s care.
The PediPals program is complimentary for pediatric patients receiving treatment at Holtz Children’s Hospital. Some of its services are covered by insurance, and many are also supported by charitable donations.
PediPals services include:
- Pain and symptom management
- Help with and education about the psychological effects of illness
- Care for caregivers, such as parents, grandparents and siblings
- Communication with patients and family members
- Decision-making assistance
- Help meeting children’s social needs, including activities and outings
- Anticipatory planning and advanced directives
- Connecting you with home and community resources
- Staff educational opportunities
Description
PediPals focuses on caring for your child’s body, mind and spirit, and for your entire family. Through age-appropriate and disease-specific care, activities and resources, we help your child, you, and other family members through this difficult time.
Serving as an active partnership between the patient, their family, and their medical team, pediatric palliative care providers include: doctors, nurses, child-life specialists, music therapists, psychologists, social workers, and members of our pastoral services.
We try to help your child continue with school and social interactions as much as possible, and to create an environment where family members can maintain jobs and engage in their own lives.
Pediatric palliative care is an integral part of the complex medical care at Holtz Children’s Hospital and UHealth Jackson Children’s Care. The PediPals team is often consulted early in diagnosis, and becomes a constant throughout your child’s care.
The PediPals program is complimentary for pediatric patients receiving treatment at Holtz Children’s Hospital. Some of its services are covered by insurance, and many are also supported by charitable donations.
PediPals services include:
- Pain and symptom management
- Help with and education about the psychological effects of illness
- Care for caregivers, such as parents, grandparents and siblings
- Communication with patients and family members
- Decision-making assistance
- Help meeting children’s social needs, including activities and outings
- Anticipatory planning and advanced directives
- Connecting you with home and community resources
- Staff educational opportunities
The Courageous Provider Award
Kim Juanico, RN, BSN, CHPPN, is the Holtz Children’s Hospital (Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami) Pediatric Palliative Care Nurse Coordinator. In the essays that supported her nomination for The Courageous Provider award, she was enthusiastically endorsed for her commitment to the field of pediatric palliative care; to her patients and their families; and to supporting her colleagues, particularly as they participate together in challenging conversations with parents and other caregivers.
PediPals FAQs
Who can participate in the PediPals program?
- Pediatric patients with complex illnesses that can benefit from enhanced communication and coordination of health care providers
- Patients facing a shortened life expectancy
- Families in need of additional support and resources, including home-based services
- Patients who require expert pain and/or symptom management
- Patients experiencing frequent hospital stays or a worsening condition
What ages does the PediPals program cover?
We work with children of all ages, from newborns through age 21.
Do I need to change my doctor?
There is no need to change your doctor or medical team. The PediPals team works directly with your primary care doctor to ensure continuity of care and communication.
Can I combine other treatments with palliative care?
Absolutely – your treatment choices are up to you. Patients can get palliative care at the same time as other prescribed treatments.
Is this the same as hospice care?
Pediatric palliative care services extend throughout the entirety of a disease or illness. Hospice usually focuses on providing comfort only at the end of life.
How much does the program cost?
The PediPals program is a complimentary service offered to patients treated at Holtz Children’s. Most insurance plans cover services offered by our PediPals team. In addition, many PediPals services are supported by charitable donations.
How can I sign up for the program?
Your primary health care provider or Jackson specialist can request a referral to the PediPals program by calling 305-585-6784.
When is this service available?
The PediPals team is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 305-585-6784. After hours, team members can be reached at 305-277-2888 .
Location
Holtz Children’s Hospital
1611 N.W. 12th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136
Open 24 hours
Our Highly Specialized Pediatric Physicians
Our world-class physicians, most of whom are faculty at the prestigious University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, provide the latest diagnosis methods, treatments and therapies for virtually every pediatric concern and condition. Whether your child needs routine pediatric checkups, surgery, ongoing care, or life-saving treatment, we’ll connect you with the physician you need.
