Structure and Development of Hospital-Based Perinatal Palliative Care Programs

In the field of palliative care, perinatal palliative care (PPC) is one of the newest arenas. PPC programs provide ongoing care for families who are pregnant with a fetus with a chronic or life-limiting fetal condition (LLFC). Care begins at the onset of diagnosis, through gestation and birth of the infant, into the neonatal period, and includes support at time of death and bereavement. As recently as 2007, few organized services were available for this vulnerable population, but the development of PPC programs has evolved significantly over the past 15 years. The PPC team is interdisciplinary, with each member serving a vital and separate but integrated role. This chapter will describe the recent development and structure of a PPC programs and the key roles of team members. We will also discuss strategies for formation and growth of a program based on the literature and the authors’ collective experience.