Employing Telehealth to Ease the Hospice Transition for Kids with Cancer

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is employing telehealth to ease the hospice transition for children with terminal cancer and their families. Coordinated telehealth visits between the hospital, hospice, and families during the first month of hospice enrollment proved feasible and acceptable. Families rated telehealth-based hospice services highly satisfactory, indicating a preference for this approach. The intervention facilitated interprofessional collaboration between community hospice nurses and hospital-based clinicians, enhancing care quality. Telehealth addressed concerns of abandonment and eliminated burdensome travel for families, improving accessibility to care. Despite initial worries, patients and families did not perceive a drop-off in care quality virtually. Telehealth enables comprehensive, patient-centered care, aiding in symptom management and bereavement support. By bringing stakeholders together, it reduces the risk of errors, ensuring effective communication and wraparound care during a challenging time.