The Perinatal Palliative Care Program at Women & Infants Hospital consists of a clinical service arm, as well as a research arm. Clinically, parents are supported by the program throughout their journey from the diagnosis during pregnancy, to birth, their postpartum and NICU stay, including our unique rooming in based Mother Baby Comfort Care Pathway, through hospital discharge. The clinical team consists of a neonatologist, a social worker, a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, a chaplain, a NICU nurse, a neonatal nurse practitioner, as well as neonatal fellows with an interest in this area. Educational activities include three simulation-based Difficult Conversations workshops, attended annually by our neonatology fellows, and conducted by Drs. McGowan and Lechner.
The program’s research arm explores questions surrounding ethical and practical approaches to supporting families in the NICU.
Bereavement Debriefing sessions provide caregivers with a safe place to process their emotional response to an infant’s death. It is a service to all NICU staff provided by the Family Psychosocial Service, Palliative Care Team, and Chaplaincy.