Pediatric Palliative Care

In this section

For pediatric palliative services, contact the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT). We're here to help.

Phone
Monday-Friday: Call our office at
617-632-5042

For urgent matters or after hours: Call the page operator and ask for "the PACT clinician on call":

Boston Children's Hospital:
617-355-6363
Dana-Farber:
617-632-3352

Email
pactoutpatient@dfci.harvard.edu

Learn about other types of support available to our patients and their families.

Supportive Oncology

Palliative care is specialized medical care designed to improve your child's quality of life during treatment. This type of care focuses on easing symptoms and minimizing stress. It is appropriate for any age at any stage of cancer or illness and may be offered alongside other treatments.

Your Care Team: Providing Whole-Family Comfort and Support Throughout Every Stage of Treatment

The Pediatric Palliative Care Team — also known as the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) — serves children cared for by any service at Boston Children's Hospital and/or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Our nationally-recognized PACT has served as a model program for pediatric institutions around the United States.

Our palliative care service provides an extra layer of support for children who have a serious illness. We work closely together with your child, your family, and your child's primary care team to develop a comprehensive quality-of-life care plan, including:

Easing pain and managing symptoms
Coordinating inpatient, outpatient, and home care services
Adjusting to the illness
Talking about the diagnosis
Coping with treatment and its side effects
Managing mood changes and behavioral challenges
Learning to ease stress and anxiety
Addressing academic challenges and needs
Fostering communication between families and health care providers
Coping with loss and grief

Our Specialists

Depending on your needs, your child may see a medical doctor, nurse, social worker, or other specialist on our Pediatric Palliative Care Team:

Physician — a health care professional who has earned a medical degree, has undergone several years of training in a primary specialty (as well as palliative care), and is licensed to practice medicine
Nurse Practitioner — a nurse with a graduate-level degree of education and advanced training who is licensed to diagnose and treat palliative care conditions, prescribe medication, and provide patient-centered care
Nurse Navigator — a registered nurse trained to assess patients' needs, symptoms, and other concerns, and triage to the appropriate treatment and services
Multifaith Chaplains — trained professionals who provide emotional support, spiritual counsel, and/or prayer to patients and families before, during, and after treatment
Clinical Social Worker — a mental health professional with an advanced degree who provides talk therapy and works with you on developing healthy coping techniques. At Dana-Farber, social workers also connect patients and caregivers with relevant resources and work closely with the medical team to address barriers to accessing cancer care

It is important to know that we do not replace your child's primary care team. Instead, we support their treatment and, at the same time, strive for an optimal quality of life. Visits may be scheduled with physicians, nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, and other pediatric specialists, as needed.

Services

Creating an Individualized Care Plan

During your personal consultation, we'll evaluate factors such as your child's feelings and health, your family's unique needs, and the care team's medical plan. Understanding the whole picture enables us to make the best possible recommendations for services that can help your child through treatment. Our clinicians are able to meet at the hospital, at one of our outpatient facilities, or at your home — whichever is most convenient for you.

A consultation can be arranged at any time during your child's treatment. Also, our team is available to your family 24 hours a day.

Educating You and Your Family

We are available to talk and provide educational resources on a variety of topics, including communication and decision-making, pain and symptom management, palliative care, hospice and home care, family dynamics, sibling issues, school interactions, and spiritual concerns. Our goal is to help your child and your family make educated decisions so you can feel empowered about the process.

Supporting Your Child During and After Treatment

It is important that your child and family have support at all times — in the clinic, at the hospital, and after you return home. Depending on your need, we can also help you find support agencies and community-based organizations aimed at helping young cancer patients. In addition, we can provide emotional and psychological support, and help arrange end-of-life care if necessary. Our goal is to connect you with the programs and services specifically designed for pediatric patients, their parents, and siblings.

Guiding Families Through Loss

In collaboration with Boston Children's Hospital, the Bereavement Program serves our community of bereaved parents and family members following the death of a child who was treated at Boston Children’s Hospital and/or at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. If you have experienced a loss, we hope to become a source of support in your grief. Learn more about bereavement workshops, support groups, referrals, and memorial events.