Pediatric Advance Care Planning
Pediatric Advance Care Planning (pACP) is an ongoing process where healthcare providers, parents and children (when able) work together to discuss and reflect on goals, values, wishes and beliefs in relation to the kind of health and/or personal care a child, or parent may want for their child to guide healthcare decisions in the future at times of great uncertainty or health deterioration. It recognizes the role, voice and values of the child and the relationship of the child within a family context.
pACP enhances children’s and parents’ ability to anticipate decisions, support family coping, increase parents’ sense of control and reduce perceived child suffering at end of life; it has been shown to impact satisfaction of care and overall quality of life of the child.
pACP is identified as best practice for children (0-19 years) living with a serious illness and/or medical complexity who are at risk of death before adulthood.
Child Health BC, BC Children’s Hospital, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, BC Children’s and Women’s Indigenous Health team, and Perinatal Services BC, have launched new pediatric advance care planning resources and tools to support healthcare providers.
The resources below have also been incorporated into RIPPL: Resources for Interdisciplinary Practice and Learning for you to include in your competency assessment and learning plans.
PROVINCIAL GUIDELINE AND DOCUMENTS
Provincial Pediatric Advance Care Planning (pACP) Guideline
Provincial Pediatric Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment Form (pMOST)
PROVIDER RESOURCES
Foundational pACP Provincial e-Learning Course
Canuck Place Children's Hospice Referral Form