Pediatric Palliative Care
Care Built Around
A Child & Their Family
Pediatric palliative care is specialized medical care for children living with a serious illness — from neonates to young adults up to age 21. Delivered by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and others working alongside a child’s existing care team, it focuses on relieving symptoms and stress to improve quality of life for both the child and their family. It addresses conditions including genetic disorders, cancer, prematurity, neurologic disorders, and heart and lung conditions — easing symptoms like pain, fatigue, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.
Because palliative care is family-centered, it also supports communication and coordination of care — helping families make decisions that align with their values, traditions, and culture. And because it’s based on need rather than prognosis, bringing the care team in early is always the right call.
Know your options
Pediatric Services in Florida
Florida offers four types of pediatric palliative services — Hospice, Concurrent Care, Partners in Care: Together for Kids (PIC:TFK), and Home Health.
Hospice
For patients with a terminal illness certified by a physician with a prognosis of six months or less.
Concurrent Care
For Medicaid recipients only, with the same terminal illness certification.
PIC:TFK
For patients enrolled in a CMS Managed Care Plan through Medicaid or KidCare, with a life-threatening illness, living in a PIC:TFK service area.
Home Health
For patients who are homebound or for whom leaving home is medically inadvisable.