Innovative pediatric palliative care programs in four countries.

Over the past three decades pediatric palliative care programs have been developed and refined throughout the world. The purpose of this study was to provide information on experiences from four of those programs yet we acknowledge that there are many other innovative programs that deserve recognition for the services they provide to children and families. This study is limited in that it is unable to compare outcomes from the four programs such as patient-reported quality of life that might help to better understand the impact of pediatric palliative care. Nonetheless information sharing can inspire and educate others with the overarching goal of globally advancing pediatric palliative care.