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Pediatric Palliative Care

Next Reply: Re:Palliative Care Cart
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Post Palliative Care Cart
Author: Mardi
Date: Jul 29, 2008 12:50 pm
We have just finished painting 2 carts for palliative care supplies. We are meeting to develop P and P around maintaining the supplies, and how to use the cart...such as who does it, where do they get supplies, who introduces it to families. Any words of advice from those of you who use carts already? Thanks much,Mardi
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Re:Palliative Care Cart (by matherj on 07/29/2008)
I have worked at places where chaplains introduced the carts following the MD's informing the family that Comfort Care was the next pathway. Arrangements were made w/ food service to provide fruit and snacks (comfort foods for a family holding vigil) which were refurnished as necessary. A selection of soothing music was available and each cart (oak tv carts) had a tapedeck/cd player bolted to it. The gift shop provided single roses (yellow or pink)and ordered small hardback journals w/ pens all at cost. Chaplains could also facilitate families making recordings for loved ones who could not be present. CareNotes were added if appropriate. All of this was provided through a fund set up (at the chaplains' request) by the development office who easily raised the needed funds annually. Having pastoral care make the initial presentation and check for follow-up needs allowed families (religious and not religious) to have on-going support and comfort as requested or as the need was assessed. Many families stated that they would not have asked to be visited by chaplains (because they weren't sure what chaplains did) but that the chaplains made the vigil easier, gentler, more meaningful, even in the midst of the sadness. RNs and MDs also found that the presence of chaplains eased their burdens as well. Rev. Jane A. Mather, MA, NACC Director of Chaplaincy Services Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY

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