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Perinatal hospice/palliative care programs and support
As prenatal testing becomes increasingly routine, more parents are learning devastating news before their babies are born. In too many places, the ability to diagnose has raced ahead of the ability to care for these families and their babies. But in a beautiful and practical response, some pioneering hospitals and hospices are starting perinatal hospice or perinatal palliative care programs for families who wish to continue their pregnancies with babies who likely will die before or shortly after birth.
A perinatal hospice approach walks with
these families on their journey through pregnancy, birth and death,
honoring the baby as well as the baby's family. Even in areas without a formal program, parents can create a loving experience for themselves and their baby, and health professionals and family and friends can offer support in the spirit of hospice (see our resources pages).
Because the concept of perinatal hospice is relatively new, programs may vary in their scope of support and services. Many of the programs listed below are hospital- or clinic-based, some are hospice-based, and a few are faith-based or independent.
CALIFORNIA
Angel Babies/Bebitos Angelitos of Hinds Hospice, Fresno and Merced, California
Haven Hospice, Signal Hill, California
St. Joseph Health System Perinatal Comfort Care, Orange, California
San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care, San Diego, California
Skye's Angels Perinatal Hospice, Hospice of the East Bay, Pleasant Hill, California
TrinityCare Hospice TrinityKids Care. Contact director Gay Walker, (310) 530-3800. Los Angeles, California
COLORADO
Fetal Concerns Program of the Colorado High
Risk Maternity and Newborn Program, a collaborative program of the
Department of Neonatology at The Children's Hospital and the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s and Infants' Services at the University of Colorado Hospital. Contact Fetal Concerns Coordinator Nancy English PhD RN, (720) 777-8826. Denver, Colorado
The Denver Hospice. Contact: Krista Newton, LCSW, (303) 388-7949 x1235. Denver, Colorado
Hospice del Valle. Contact: Lois Booth RN, (719) 589-9019. Alamosa, Colorado
String of Pearls, Denver, Colorado
FLORIDA
Community PedsCare, pediatric and perinatal palliative and hospice care, a program of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida in collaboration with Wolfson Children's Hospital, Nemours Children's Clinic and the University of Florida. Contact: program manager Terry Eason, (904) 407-6302, Jacksonville, Florida
Perinatal Hospice and Palliative Care at The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. Contact: Julie Douglass, (727) 523-2425. Clearwater, Florida
GEORGIA
Hospice Atlanta Perinatal Palliative Care Program, (404) 869-3000. Atlanta, Georgia
Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center perinatal program, (770) 533-8888. Gainesville, Georgia
Northside Hospital Perinatal Loss Office, Perinatal Palliative Care, Atlanta, Georgia
ILLINOIS
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Pediatric Palliative Care Service, (847) 723-6791. Park Ridge, Illinois
The Haven Network for Perinatal Death and Bereavement, (Christian-based support), Rockford, Illinois
Rush University Medical Center Fetal &
Neonatal Medicine Program. Contact: Maria Reyes RNC MSN, (312)
942-7874. Chicago, Illinois
Trinity BirthPlace, Trinity Medical Center. Contact: Perinatal Hospice Coordinator Amy Polowy RN, (309) 779-5920. Moline, Illinois
INDIANAPathways at Clarian Health Partners, (317) 962-8135, Indianapolis, Indiana
St. Vincent Health Perinatal Care Hospice Services, Indiana
IOWA
Perinatal Hospice of Iowa (a collaborative partnership of Mercy Medical
Center, Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Iowa Lutheran Hospital).
Contact: Ann Valdez (Mercy Birthing Center). (515) 247-3207 or
voicemail (515) 643-5209. Des Moines, Iowa
KANSAS
Choices Medical Clinic, Wichita, Kansas
MICHIGAN
Angela Hospice Prenatal Program, Livonia, Michigan
Henry Ford Kaleidoscope Kids Hospice, Detroit, Michigan
Hospice of Michigan Perinatal and Pediatric Early Care Program. Contact Pediatric Programs Director Mary Spicketts RN, BSN, CHPN, (800) 642-4021. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Perinatal Hospice of Washtenaw, Ann Arbor, Michigan
MINNESOTA
Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Birth Center Case Management Specialists, (612) 863-7585. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth Center, United Hospital. Contact: Annette Klein RN, (651) 241-6206. St. Paul, Minnesota
Deeya
(a Sanskrit word meaning "a small light"), a joint program of
Children's Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Abbott
Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and United Hospital in St. Paul,
Minnesota
Lakewood Health System Perinatal Hospice, (218) 894-8080 or (800) 525-1033. Staples, Minnesota
MISSOURI
Alexandra's House, Kansas City, Missouri
FOOTPRINTS, Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care Carousel Program prenatal services, Kansas City, Missouri
Wings perinatal hospice program, Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
NEW JERSEY
Circle of Life Children's Center. Contact: Director of Program Services Sheila Walsh APRN BC, (973) 972-1743. Newark, New Jersey
Valley Health System Butterflies Program, Paramus, New Jersey
NEW YORK
Caring Hearts Perinatal Program, Hospice Buffalo. Contact: Kelley Clem RN, (716) 686-8173 or (716) 686-8006. Buffalo, New York
Hospice Care Network, Contact: Mary Gravina CSW, director of bereavement, (631) 666-6873 x203. Long Island, New York
Maggie Rose Perinatal Bereavement Program, Hospice Care in Westchester and Putnam, (914) 666-4228. Tarrytown, New York
Perinatal Hospice Center, St. Vincent's Hospital, Greenwich Village. Contact: Director of neonatology Mary-Joan Marron-Corwin MD. (212) 604-7862. New York City
NORTH CAROLINA
Kids Path Perinatal Hospice Services, Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, North Carolina
University of North Carolina Center for Maternal and Fetal Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
OHIO
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center/StarShine Hospice, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland Clinic Fetal Care Center. Contact: Donna Patno CNM DNP, 1-866-864-0430. Cleveland, Ohio
Hospice of the Western Reserve Perinatal Care Program, Cleveland, Ohio
Journey of Hope Perinatal Hospice, Miami Valley Women's Center. Contact: Nancy Jensen RN, (937) 298-9998, Dayton, Ohio
Perinatal palliative care, The Toledo Hospital/Toledo Children's Hospital, ProMedica Health System. Contact: social worker Kim Folk-Axe, (419) 291-5421, or Chaplain Julie Beitelschees, (419) 291-3656. Toledo, Ohio
PENNSYLVANIA
Lancaster General Women and Babies Hospital. Contact: Staff Chaplain Carolanne B. Hauck, 717-544-3418.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Carolina Perinatal Support Network, Greenville, South Carolina
Lowcountry Perinatal Support, North Charleston, South Carolina
SOUTH DAKOTA
Perinatal palliative care program, Sanford Children's Hospital. Contact: Larry Fenton MD or Pam Koepsell RN, (605) 333-1000. Sioux Falls, South Dakota TENNESSEE
Hospice of Chattanooga Perinatal Hospice, Chattanooga, Tennessee
TEXAS
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Contact Kathleen Garza CNM MSN, (915) 545-6942, or Jose Gonzalez MD, (915) 545-6710. El Paso, Texas
UTAH
Angel Watch, Intermountain Health Care. Contact: Carolyn Kasteler RN, (801) 698-4486. Salt Lake City, Utah
VIRGINIA
Family Birth Place at Mary Washington Hospital. Contact: Perinatal bereavement coordinator Tammy Ruiz RN, (540) 741-3268. Fredericksburg, Virginia
Tepeyac Family Center Kristin Anderson Perinatal Hospice Program, (703) 273-9440, Fairfax, Virginia
WASHINGTON
Lavender Tree, Care Net of Pierce County, (253) 770-8697 or e-mail. Puyallup, Washington
Sacred Heart Women's Health Center's Forget-Me-Not program, Spokane, Washington
Stepping Stones Perinatal Program, Providence Health System's Hospice of Seattle, Washington
WISCONSIN
Gundersen Lutheran Perinatal Palliative Care, La Crosse, Wisconsin
International
CANADA
Pediatric Palliative Care Program, Child Health Program, Capital Health. Contact: (780) 407-7210 (physician) or (780) 407-7652 (nurse coordinator), or e-mail Dawn Davies MD or Tara Wren. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
ITALY
La Quercia Millenaria, Rome
FRANCE
Soins Palliatifs en Maternité (Association SPAMA)
POLAND
Warsaw Hospice for Children and Perinatal Ultrasound Clinic, Warsaw, Poland
UNITED KINGDOM
The Rosie Hospital, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, U.K.
If your organization provides formal or informal perinatal hospice support and you would like to be added to this list, please contact us.
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