Provided to pediatric patients on a consultative basis under our new 
supportive services for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

The Pediatric Palliative Care Team of Cape Cod

The Pediatric Palliative Care Team of Cape Cod is a new program of supportive services for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The only program of its kind on Cape Cod, it is one of only ten such programs in the state, funded under the Pediatric Palliative Care Program Grant established as part of the Health Care Reform legislation in January 2007, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

This unique program is designed to complement existing services. It adds expanded options to supplement care already being provided by a home health agency, physician, family caregiver and/or other agency. It helps support the family’s ability to care for the child at home.

Services are designed to help address the many unmet physical, emotional, social or spiritual needs of the child and family and may include assessment or consultation for pain & symptom management, patient or sibling counseling, social services, spiritual care, respite care, emergency services, volunteer support and bereavement care, if needed. There is no cost for these services for eligible children.

There are three important aspects that differentiate the program from hospice care: 1) there is no requirement for a six-month prognosis; 2) curative treatments can be continued; 3) the family does not need to discontinue the services from other providers.

Infants, children or adolescents may be diagnosed with any life-limiting illnesses such as:
advanced or progressive cancer, major organ failures, HIV and cystic fibrosis. Referrals can be made by any health care professional, community agency, and family caregiver or by the family themselves by calling The Pediatric Palliative Care Team of Cape Cod at 508-957-0200. Services are available to support any children who may benefit.

How is Pediatric Palliative Care Provided?

Pediatric Palliative Care collaborates with area physicians, healthcare organizations and agencies to provide comprehensive, coordinated, interdisciplinary consultation for pediatric patients and their families living with serious and life-limiting illnesses in a variety of care settings. A pediatric palliative care team comprised of a physician, pediatric nurse, spiritual counselor, licensed social worker and a pediatric mental health counselor provide clinical consultation for physical and emotional symptom management as well as anticipatory grief guidance and assistance.