Pediatric Care
PEDIATRIC CARE--KIDS PATH®
WHAT IS KIDS PATH®?
For three decades, Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region (HPCCR) has been committed to providing care to people of all ages. We are one of only a few hospice and palliative care programs in the United States that provides a specialized program of care for seriously ill children. Understanding that children need a different approach for care and support, HPCCR is a licensed provider of Kids Path®, founded in Greensboro, NC to address these unique needs. Team- oriented home care is offered by a nurse, social worker, volunteer, and others, such as a chaplain or therapist, as needed.
Community contributions and limited reimbursement from insurance and Medicaid have enabled HPCCR to offer the community this comprehensive and specialized program which incorporates direct care for ill children in their homes and support services for families and grieving children.
Click here for criteria for Kids Path admission.
KIDS PATH® HEALTH SERVICES
Kids Path is a unique program for children, ranging in age from infancy to eighteen years of age, and their families facing the challenges of coping with a serious illness or condition. Our pediatric home care team offers physical, emotional, and spiritual care with a goal of enhancing the quality of life for children and teens, and those who share their lives as they cope with a progressive and potentially life limiting illness or condition. Services may be provided under a Home Health or Hospice Benefit, depending on the goals of care and medical condition of the pediatric patient.
A Kids Path staff RN can make intermittent home visits (as ordered by a doctor). Kids Path team members may include a social worker, nursing assistant, physical therapist, and other disciplines, as ordered to meet specific treatment goals. A physician's order is required for home care services.
LEVELS OF HOME CARE
Kids Path® recognizes that children are commonly treated aggressively in an effort to halt disease progression, obtain remission or achieve a cure. For this reason, various levels of care and support are offered. Children may come in and out of the Kids Path program as their condition and needs change.
Home Health Care: For children with a progressive and potentially life limiting illness or condition requiring skilled nursing/ professional services. Home health services emphasize nursing procedures and family teaching to meet specific medical needs of the seriously ill child. Discharge or transfer to another level of care is anticipated upon admission, and occurs as goals are met or the patient’s condition changes.
Hospice Care: For children with a limited life expectancy and meet medical criteria for this level of care. Families often would prefer to have their child remain at home but need an extensive range of medical and support services to do so. Our goal is to provide comfort-focused care and aggressive palliative treatment, when cure is not anticipated. A team of experienced, highly skilled and caring professionals offer services. When needed, bereavement services are available for all family members.
Supportive Care (non-medical transitional service): For Kids Path children who have received home health with goals achieved and need transition back to the community or to another level of care or care setting. Psychosocial support is the focus of this level of care and the goal is discharge or transfer within three (3) months.
KIDS PATH® GRIEF SERVICES
Children cope with illness and loss differently than adults. Kids Path strives to meet the unique needs of children and their families by offering information, support, and a safe place to express feelings.
Individual or group support is available for children, teens, and families affected by the serious illness or the death of a family member or someone close. Kids Path staff also make referrals for supportive resources throughout our service area. In-school education and support is available to schools to offer support for students experiencing grief. Our Kids Path staff – along with school counselors – can offer support and teach students specific coping skills to help them process their loss in a healthy way.
Chameleon's Journey Grief Camp October 15 -- 16, 2011
Chameleon's Journey is a grief camp for children and teens operated by Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region's Kids Path program. It is a weekend to support campers who have experienced the death of a close family member or other significant person in their lives. Through Chameleon's Journey overnight and day camps, and in-school grief support groups, we have had the honor of touching the lives of hundreds of grieving youths and their parent-guardians.
The overnight camp is a fun-filled and unique event. A combination of structured, hands-on activities and small and large group discussions led by trained counselors help campers identify and constructively manage their feelings of grief. In a caring, confidential, and safe environment, campers share their experiences and feelings with one another and ultimately recognize that they are not alone. A highlight of the camp is the annual campfire memorial service which honors the campers' loved ones. Parents and guardians participate in workshops on Saturday and Sunday, designed specifically to address adult grief and provide suggestions to help their grieving children.
Chameleon's Journey camp is offered free of charge through the generosity of area organizations, foundations, businesses, individuals, and volunteers who care about and have a special interest in the well being of children and teens. If you or your company would like to become a volunteer or financial supporter of this special camp, please call 704.375.0100. To make a gift to support Kids Path or Chameleon's Journey Grief Camp, please click here. Click on the following link to see the 2011 Chameleon's Journey brochure.
If you would like to attend the camp, please call 704.375.0100 or click on the following link to download an application.
Click here to view the 2010 Chameleon's Journey Grief Camp photo gallery.
HPCCR is committed to supporting the needs of children and families who are coping with a progressive and potentially life limiting illness or condition, regardless of insurance status. Thus, we rely on community donations for support of our Kids path program. Thank you for your donations and attending events that benefit our patients and their families. Your support helps us to continue our mission to support both children and serve patients of all ages.