Division of Palliative Care

The Division of Pediatric Palliative Care is a group of physicians working to address the needs of children facing serious, life-threatening, and/or potentially life-limiting illnesses.  We work to relieve suffering, improve the child’s quality and enjoyment of life, and to help families adapt and function during the illness and throughout bereavement.

Our physicians are double board-certified or board eligible in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and their individual sub-specialties (pediatrics, neonatology, critical care).  We care for children at Primary Children’s Hospital, Utah Fetal Center, the University of Utah.  We also provide services throughout the Intermountain West through our recently expanded telehealth services. 

We facilitate informed decision making by patients, families, and health care providers, and assist with ongoing coordination of care to ensure seamless transitions across location and systems of care.  We work to see that every child receives the best care in the right setting to live the best life possible.  Palliative improves the quality of life of our patients, alleviates pain, decreases distress and uncertainty, and matches treatment plans to patient and family goals.

Our physicians are actively engaged in education through our Pediatric Palliative Care Fellowship, clinical palliative care rotations for medical students, and by offering education opportunities for caregivers and physicians through our Palliative Certificate program: UCoPE (Utah Certificate of Palliative Education).

Pediatric Palliative Care’s physician consult service in made up of our physicians, advance practice providers, a continuum of care nurse, a board-certified palliative care social worker, a board-certified chaplain, and a dedicated child life specialist.  Our consult service is available Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm and can be reached by contacting Rainbow Kids Palliative Care at 801-662-3770.

What to expect with a Pediatric Palliative Care consult/Key Components:

• Assess patient and guardian understanding of medical condition and health care literacy.
• Elicit patient/family values and goals of care based on current medical condition and anticipated changes over time.
• Complete a thorough symptom assessment, including identifying psychosocial and existential distress, and provide recommendations for management.
• Introduce advance care planning, including inpatient and outpatient code status, preferred location of death (if applicable), and guardianship issues.
• Identify and support the medical home for the patient, ensuring continuity of care and communication with PCP and other community-based care team members.