Pediatric Hospice Care at MJHS
Caring for a loved one with a terminal illness can be complicated and overwhelming.
But when the patient is your child, the challenges are far more complex. As a parent, you are forced to juggle many responsibilities, may have other children who are scared or need attention and have to make so many decisions that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Often, there is nobody you can talk to who truly understands your situation and can offer concrete help navigating the clinical and emotional challenges ahead. This is where MJHS can step in.
MJHS, The Care You Need
At MJHS, we aim to ensure that you, your child, and their siblings receive the care and services needed during this challenging period. The MJHS pediatric team can provide comfort care for your child at any stage of their illness, even if they are still undergoing curative treatment. We are also here to guide you on what to expect as your child’s illness progresses and offer the support needed to help you and your child maintain the best possible quality of life.
Our MJHS care team includes highly trained pediatric hospice physicians, nurse practitioners, pediatric nurses, and social workers. All team members have specialized training in treating distressing physical symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, and emotional challenges, such as anxiety, depression, spiritual distress, and family difficulties. In addition to the care we can provide, the team can also help connect you to community services that will lend additional support.
Getting Started
It starts by having our team speak with your child’s physicians to learn the specifics of their medical condition and the current clinical and support services they are receiving. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and working together. Then we contact your insurance company to maximize our benefits to your child and family.
Next, We Come to You!
One of our pediatric clinicians will come to your home to meet with you and your child. They will examine your child and discuss any concerns about their medical condition. The hospice team will contact your child’s primary pediatric team to recommend and coordinate care. The hospice physician or nurse practitioner will also visit your child as needed for additional guidance in caring for your child at home. An MJHS social worker, who is trained to understand the unique physical and emotional needs of terminally ill children and their families, will provide ongoing support, including help arranging delivery of required medical equipment, transportation to medical appointments as well as connecting you to resources that can help with Medicaid applications and other community-based services.
Ongoing Support
Your child and family will receive ongoing visits from the pediatric hospice team, including nurses, social workers, and pastoral care.
They will also continue to work closely with your child’s pediatrician and specialist physicians to offer recommendations on how best to help manage your child’s evolving symptoms. Of course, you will always be actively involved in making decisions about the care provided.
To learn more about our Pediatric Hospice program or request care, please call (212) 420-3370 or Contact MJHS.
