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When a mother says to you, “I want every person to see my child as a miracle and not a disability.” We listen. St. Francis commits to being that champion for every child and their particular needs. When illness or injury creates life-limiting situations our goal is to provide the best life possible for each patient. We also align with their loved ones so they are assured that we will always consider and see their child as an exceptional gift in the world.
Our pediatric palliative program is specialized medical care for children with serious illness. Every day we focus on providing children with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness, whatever the diagnosis. We endeavor to improve quality of life for both the child and the family. Team Francis includes doctors, nurses and other specialists who work with a patient’s primary health care team providing support and various services for the child and for the child’s family. Children are cared for at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided together with curative treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, hospitalization.
Who We Treat
We treat a wide range of conditions, including:
♥ Cancer
♥ Genetic disorders
♥ Premature birth
♥ Heart and lung conditions
♥ Neurological disorders
If your child’s condition is not listed, please contact us to learn how we can help. Click Here
Our Services
Our team provides a variety of support services, including:
Easing pain and other symptoms. We improve the patient’s and family’s quality of life by easing the child’s pain and managing symptoms.
Establishing goals of care. We work closely with the family and the child’s health care providers to establish treatment goals and clarify priorities of care.
Health care decision making. Our team explains complicated terms, discusses care options with the family and helps them make decisions based on their values, traditions and preferences.
Emotional support. We provide emotional, social and spiritual support to help patients and families carry on with everyday life.
Communicating with providers to coordinate care. We provide communication among the patient, family and health care team to give families the information and guidance needed to make the best health care decisions for their child. We also promote continuity of care between services and multiple admissions.
Sibling support. We understand that when one family member is hospitalized, the entire family is affected. Our team helps siblings understand their brother’s or sister’s diagnosis or medical care. We also help support continued bonds and normal family experiences during extended separations and disruption to family routines caused by hospitalization.
Integrating community resources. We work with community resources to link hospital programs with community-based home care.
