Overview
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, in affiliation with The Elizabeth Hospice, provides compassionate end of life care decisions and medical aid to infants, children and adolescents with life-threatening illnesses who wish to be cared for at home, including by loved ones.
A specialized healthcare team of clinicians from The Elizabeth Hospice and Rady Children’s work together as part of a fully integrated program to provide hospice services and provide care decisions tailored to what’s best for each hospice patient. Operated under The Elizabeth Hospice license, the program is directed by Kimberly Bower, M.D., a pediatric hospice and palliative medical care expert at Rady Children’s.
Through educational and support programs, parents are given the tools to confidently care for their child at home, including through emotional support for loved ones. Family members also gain a sense of control over their own lives, finding strength and hope within the context of the child’s medical care.
There are two components of the end of life care program:
- Kids Care
A healthcare team with training in pediatrics provides interdisciplinary care and medical aid for pediatric patients(0-21 years old) with a life-threatening illness. For more information, click here. - Perinatal Hospice Care
The same staff provides care for pregnant women with children diagnosed in utero with serious medical conditions. The program provides emotional support for the entire family, and care can continue to be provided after the baby’s birth.
For questions about our services, please call Scripps Hospice at 800-304-4430.