Helping Kids with Complicated or Chronic Medical Issues

Children living with medically complex or chronic (ongoing) issues often require an extra supportive hand to live as healthfully and happily as possible. In many cases, these children live with complications of extreme prematurity, or congenital (present at birth) or genetic disorders. They are also often dependent on medical technologies to achieve a better quality of life.

Our pediatric palliative care team partners with our Complex Care and Transition Program team to provide the best possible care to our medically complex patients. For some patients, our services start while receiving care at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies or Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. For other patients, our services begin after a referral from their primary care or subspecialty providers. Regardless of your child’s location at the time of our initial consult, our team serves to help you make the best possible decisions for your child’s future in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

Doing More to Improve Quality of Life

Our pediatric palliative care team helps to coordinate care among all of your child’s healthcare providers within Orlando Health Arnold Palmer. Our goal is to help make sure your child’s treatment plan is in line with your family’s wishes, ensuring that all providers involved in your child’s care plan are on the same page. When it comes to your child's healthcare decisions, you’ll always be an active part of the discussion.

Our pediatric palliative care team members also work with you to develop care plans focused on pain and symptom management, advanced care planning and decision-making support for your family.

Helping You Make the Best Decisions for Your Child

Your pediatric palliative care physician is available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about your child’s treatment plan. Our palliative care team members act as your primary resource for counseling regarding pain and symptom management. In many cases, this can help you determine how to navigate medical problems that may occur at home.

We work closely with you to identify your goals for your child’s treatment, keeping quality of life in mind throughout your child’s journey as you make decisions for your family. We promote personal choice in healthcare and make every effort to help the other members of your child’s team understand your wishes for your child.

Connecting with Adult Medical Specialists

Thanks to the efforts of our expert pediatric healthcare providers, many children in our pediatric palliative care program move on to adult medical care. The transition to adult care can sometimes be difficult and challenging in many ways.

Fortunately, we partner with the Complex Care and Transition Program to connect kids and families with knowledgeable, experienced adult care physicians for continued care.

Additionally, establishing guardianship is often necessary after a child legally becomes an adult. Our specialists can help you through this process so you can continue to help make decisions that are most effective for your child.

Our Team

Our pediatric palliative care team takes a collaborative approach to caring for each child, meeting weekly to talk about the children in our care and how we can improve their experience. We hope to take a proactive approach to meeting your child’s needs and helping them avoid any potential adverse events.

In addition to the healthcare team, you’ll have access to a patient navigator and a clinical social worker/care coordinator to help meet your child’s needs. These professionals connect you with other healthcare providers and resources in the community.

Contact Us

For more information or to speak with a palliative care professional, please call us at (321) 841-2245.