Hospice Care for Children / Edition 3

by Ann Armstrong-Dailey, Sarah Zarbock

Overview

Children with life-threatening and terminal illnesses- and their families- require a unique kind of care to meet a wide variety of needs. This book, now in its third edition, provides an authoritative source for the many people involved in the care of dying children. Written by leading authorities in pediatrics and palliative medicine, this comprehensive resource emphasizes practical topics and covers the entire range of issues related to the hospice care from psychological stress to pain and symptom management. The text has been fully updated and includes an international perspective chapter and a chapter written cy Children's Hospice International with detailed all-inclusive care plans.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195340709
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	09/30/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	592
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.60(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Christy Torkildson, BSN, MSN (George Mark Children's House)
Description: An impressive list of experts provide a comprehensive overview of all aspects of pediatric palliative care in the third edition of this book, building on previous editions (1993, 2001) and demonstrating the tremendous growth in the field.
Purpose: The stated purpose is to describe all that can be done to support and care for children facing life-threatening conditions and their families. Although the objective is grand, the book is an essential addition to the library of all who care for these children and their families. It provides a comprehensive overview of most aspects of pediatric palliative care, and case studies, charts, and extensive references provide practical information that can be used in all pediatric palliative care programs and models of care.
Audience: Although written for healthcare professionals, the book targets all who may care for a child facing a life-threatening condition. Most of the chapter authors are national and international experts in the field and they provide an excellent foundation in the topic, drawing on relevant and recent research to do so.
Features: This book provides an excellent foundation in pediatric palliative care, not just end-of-life care. It discusses aspects of pediatric palliative care across different settings as well as from different perspectives. Topics range from practical information needed for clinical care to the more holistic and comprehensive needs for the child, family, and staff. There are excellent chapters on ethics and care of siblings, as well as a comprehensive, annotated list of select literature for children and adolescents and guidelines and resources for adults written by leading experts. Although the book is excellent overall, there are a few shortcomings. The chapter on Children's Hospice International highlights the progress made from the original CHI-PACC demonstration grants and includes an overview of two current state medical waiver programs to provide pediatric palliative care services. However, the majority of the information is not updated and it is not written in a manner consistent with the rest of the book, which is: How can I do the same or do this better? Much of the chapter would have been better off as an appendix because it was simply a recreation of the standards of care and practice guidelines for CHI-PACC. In another instance, a section that is subtitled "Ample and Flexible Funding" (a state that is unknown in the field of palliative care), consists of a one-sentence paragraph and then a recreation of an old listing of individuals and organizations involved in the development of the original demonstration projects 10 years ago. The list is not dated, which may lead readers to think it is current.
Assessment: The book does provide a useful and comprehensive overview of pediatric palliative care and has been updated to include the advances in the field since the last edition. As one of the few such comprehensive books focused on this population, it is an essential addition to the library of all who care for these children and their families. It would be especially useful as a review for those in the field and as a source of information for those entering the field. I would suggest a change in the title to more accurately reflect the book's focus on much more than just care at the end of life.

Doody's Review Service

"As one of the few such comprehensive books focused on this population, it is an essential addition to the library of all who care for these children and their families. It would be especially useful as a review for those in the field and as a source of information for those entering the field."—Doody's

From the Publisher