Who We Are
GIPPCC strives to increase access to compassionate, quality pediatric palliative care programming and bereavement support throughout the state of Illinois.
Mission/Vision
GIPPCC is a coalition of hospital systems, hospices, families, and supporting organizations dedicated to optimizing the quality of life for every child in Illinois living with chronic, complex, and/or life-threatening illness, their families, and the teams that care for them, regardless of geographic location, preferred setting, or the family’s financial situation.
What is Pediatric Palliative Care?
PPC is specialized medical care for children with serious illness and their families. PPC focuses on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of advanced illness- whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the child and their family by addressing their unique psychological, social, and spiritual needs. The care is delivered through the collaborative efforts of an interdisciplinary team and serves as a critical link in care coordination, communication and helping the family to understand all the treatment goals and options…from diagnosis and throughout the course of a child’s treatment.
What is Concurrent Care?
Did you know? A section of the Affordable Care Act called “Concurrent Care for Children” mandates that children who are in a Medicaid Program and are eligible for hospice care can continue to receive coverage for curative, disease-directed therapies while also benefiting from the specialized support from the hospice team.
Concurrent Care allows children and families to pursue curative & life-prolonging therapies while also receiving the benefit of the specialized care of the hospice team to alleviate pain, suffering and improve quality of life for the child and their families, at home and in the hospital.
How is Hospice different?
Hospice is reserved for patients who are expected to live 6 months or less (if the disease follows its normal or expected course) as certified by their physician.