At the core of end-of-life care is the belief that you have the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and your family will receive the necessary support to allow you to do so.
Our Supportive and Palliative Care Service provides care for patients and families who face life-threatening illnesses. The service offers pain and symptom management, support in dealing with emotional stress and social issues, and spiritual support. The team works with the patient's primary medical doctor. A physician may contact the Supportive and Palliative Care consultation service for assistance with any University of Iowa Health Care patient.
Supportive and Palliative Care for Pediatrics Patients
Supportive and palliative care is a program for children with serious or life-threatening illnesses. It is designed to support quality of life and to prevent or relieve suffering for children and their families, regardless of the stage of illness.
Palliative care is available at the time of a diagnosis or any time throughout treatment for children hospitalized at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, or being treated on an outpatient basis. Palliative care can also be continued in long-term care facilities, hospices, or homes through community support and collaboration.
The pediatric palliative care team at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital collaborates with the patient’s medical team to coordinate care and manage symptoms. Palliative care is intended to achieve the best possible quality of life for the child and family, and when death is inevitable, to support the child and family. The goals of the pediatric palliative care program include:
- Provide support and counseling for the child and their family members dealing with the emotional, social, and spiritual stress of illness
- Focus on comfort and quality of living when a cure is not possible
- Manage pain and other symptoms related to the illness
- Promote a sense of well-being and peace of mind