Pediatric Palliative Care
Palliative care is not an end-of-life service. Rather, it’s specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses, focused on improving quality of life. Unique on Long Island, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Palliative Care helps children at any point in a difficult treatment process, regardless of the diagnosis or prognosis.
Here, you’ll find active total care for your child's body, mind and spirit, along with caring support for your entire family.
Improving Your Child’s Quality of Life
Your child is more than their illness or diagnosis. At Stony Brook Children’s, our Pediatric Palliative Care team has been trained to not only make your child more comfortable throughout their hospital experience, but to also help them “be a child” despite their illness. As a teaching hospital and research facility, our team is also engaged in studies to find new and better ways of delivering pediatric medicine by incorporating palliative care.
In addition to caring for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of children, adolescents and young adults facing serious illnesses, the Pediatric Palliative Care team also helps the entire family cope with the stresses and challenges of illness and hospitalization. We’re here for your child’s medical needs and to inform, guide and support you as you face difficult choices and sensitive situations.
Services
Palliative care focuses on the entire child, not just the illness. For that reason, our team manages physical symptoms including pain, nausea, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping, as well as providing emotional support for fear, worry, guilt, loss and other feelings your child and those closest to them may be experiencing. We also help to coordinate treatment with caregivers and find resources for support outside of the hospital.
- Symptom management
- Child life services
- Psychosocial and spiritual care
- Family support
- Sibling support
- Relaxation techniques
- Bereavement resources
- Memorial services
- Hospital-to-community transition coordination and collaboration with outpatient primary care physicians
Who Can Refer?
Do you think your child or a patient you’re caring for could benefit from pediatric palliative care? We encourage referrals from a wide range of individuals, including:
- Patients
- Physicians
- Family members
- Any healthcare providers caring for the patient
Our Team
Locations
Stony Brook Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Palliative Care program is here for you when you need us. Call or email to make an appointment.
Call (631) 972-7287 or email PedsPallCare@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Patient Resources
You’re not alone. In addition to the resources below, the palliative care team at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital sponsors education and outreach programs, including family and sibling support groups at the hospital, as well as local chapters of national organizations.
Call (631) 444-KIDS (5437) for information on hospital-based programs.
Pediatric palliative care supports families with seriously ill children in maximizing their child's quality of life. At Stony Brook Medicine, we focus on each child’s individual needs, providing support and symptom management to help children live with as much fulfillment as possible. Learn more about pediatric palliative care and find additional resources.
A network of parents and others caring for children with serious medical conditions, Courageous Parents Network offers insights from families and pediatric clinicians to help you feel you are doing the best you can for your child and family.
Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition provides toolkits, webinars and other practical resources to support families with children facing life-limiting conditions.
