RT Book, Section A1 Kang, Tammy A1 Ragsdale, Lindsay Burns A1 Licht, Daniel J. A1 Mayer, Oscar H. A1 Santucci, Gina A1 Hill, Malinda Ann A1 Hwang, Jennifer A1 Feudtner, Chris A2 Zaoutis, Lisa B. A2 Chiang, Vincent W. SR Print(0) ID 1146112786 T1 Palliative Care T2 Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine, 2e YR 2017 FD 2017 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071829281 LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1146112786 RD 2024/11/02 AB The field of pediatric palliative medicine has undergone significant growth in the last decade. Palliative care services were once only considered appropriate for children who were imminently dying, but are now recognized as vital to the care of those with complex potentially life-threatening conditions. Hospitals that care for the approximately 55,000 children who die each year in the United States have an obligation to provide excellent pediatric palliative care.1-3 Although palliative care is becoming standard of care in many hospitals, on average only 10% of pediatric patients who are eligible receive palliative care.1 A recent survey by the Center to Advance Palliative Care found that although 69% of hospitals caring for children had a pediatric palliative care program, the staffing and scope of programs varied widely.4 Healthcare professionals find this domain of practice extremely difficult and referral for services is sometimes delayed or omitted. This chapter addresses the core challenges of providing palliative care, supplying practical and, to the extent possible, evidence-based answers to these challenges.