Palliative Care Program Specialist

Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford
United States, California, Palo Alto
725 Welch Road (Show on map)
Mar 31, 2025
Job Description JOB SUMMARY This paragraph summarizes the general nature, level and purpose of the job. The Palliative Care Program Specialist is a specialized position responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering patient care to individuals with serious illnesses and their families throughout the continuum of care. This role collaborates with directors and team members to develop best practice guidelines, create patient education materials, and liaise with local and national data metrics registries to facilitate data collection, analysis, and quality improvement initiatives. Additionally, the specialist leads efforts to support the accreditation of the PPC program and assists in identifying operational needs and implementing palliative care practice standards. As a point person, the Palliative Care Program Specialist communicates care plan changes to patients and families in collaboration with the Palliative Care team. The specialist supports the team in enhancing patients' and families' understanding of illnesses and promotes an interdisciplinary approach to addressing patient needs. They also serve as a consultant for other healthcare providers and act as a resource for information and coordination between primary and subspecialty team members, ensuring effective communication of referrals and care plans. Furthermore, the Palliative Care Program Specialist facilitates care transitions by working closely with case managers to ensure continuity and clear understanding of the next steps in care at discharge. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.Employees must abide by all Joint Commission Requirements including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.Must perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the hospital's policies and procedures, including its Service Standards and its Code of Conduct. Collaborates with inpatient and ambulatory staff to clarify reason for Pediatric palliative care consultation or referral. Triages urgency helps coordinate timing of consult, follow-up visit, outside referrals and care conferences in coordination with the palliative care team members. Provides advice and support to colleagues caring for children and adolescents affected by life limiting or serious illness, especially when symptoms or needs are complex, with support from the wider interdisciplinary team. Serves as liaison and consultant between healthcare providers to ensure alignment with patient family centered goals and continuity of care. Serves as a point person for patient and family in communicating care plan changes, providing instruction, and promoting participation in collaboration with other palliative care team members. Develops and maintains in-depth clinical knowledge of pediatric palliative care and symptom management. Demonstrates expertise in the delivery of care using a pediatric palliative care approach. Develops an understanding of current issues and trends in palliative care, the role of Palliative Care and contributes to local policy and service development. Works with the directors, leadership, and other team members of the Palliative Care Program to liaise with data metric registries, develop patient care algorithms for evaluation, management, and treatment of patients with serious illness. Coordinates and participates in the delivery of safe, competent, compassionate age and specialty appropriate nursing care to a specified patient population. Serves as a liaison between groups of providers and/or care settings to ensure continuity of patient care. Facilitates access and communication when multiple services / agencies are involved. Collaborates with case managers and others to provide patient care. Serves as a consultant to nursing staffs, medical staff, and other health care providers in care of the specified patient population. Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying. * Education: Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university. End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) in Pediatrics completion. * Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience. * License / Certification: Current American Heart Association (AHA) Certification for Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers and CA Registered Nurse (RN). KNOWLEDGE These are the observable and measurable attributes and skills required to perform successfully the essential functions of the job and are generally demonstrated through qualifying experience, education or licensure/certification. Knowledge and experience with patients with serious illness and/or end of life care and complex symptom management. Ability to anticipate, assess, plan for, and manage physical, psychological, and social needs of the patient and family/caregiver and provide appropriate support, comfort, and reassurance. Ability to collaborate with patients, families, providers, and other PC team members to establish an effective plan of care based on mutually developed goals and in an environment that fosters shared decision making. Ability to develop, evaluate, implement and, as necessary, modify a patient care plan to meet the needs of individual patients. Ability to integrate patient care with other members of the interdisciplinary health care team and provide direction or guidance to non-licensed personnel in assigned area of responsibility to ensure quality care. Ability to observe changes in the medical condition of patients and effectively communicate these changes to other nursing staff members and physicians. Knowledge of computer systems and software used in functional area. Knowledge of current theories, principles, practices, standards, emerging technologies, techniques and approaches in the nursing profession, and the health care system, and the responsibility and accountability for the outcome of practice. Knowledge of laws, rules and regulations; standards and guidelines of certifying and accrediting bodies; hospital and department/unit standards, protocols, policies and procedures governing the provision of nursing care in the area of assignment. Knowledge of medical and professional nursing ethics and patient privacy rights. Knowledge of medical terminology; principles and practices of health promotion, risk reduction, illness and disease prevention and management; medications and drugs, common dosages, their physical and physiological effects, and possible adverse reactions. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions in which the job is typically performed are available from the Occupational Health Department. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Additional Information Pay Range Compensation is based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. Typically, new team members join at the minimum to mid salary range. Minimum to Midpoint Range (Hourly): $73.70 to $92.44 Stanford Medicine Children's Health (SMCH) strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment. Accordingly, SMCH does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above. People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements, and where applicable, in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.