Stony Brook Children’s dedicated pediatric palliative care program is unique on Long Island. Rina Meyer, MD, a specialist in the field, leads the program.
Pediatric palliative care supports the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of children and families facing life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. The goal is to foster quality of life, maintain dignity, and reduce suffering in ways that are appropriate to the patient’s age, upbringing, culture and community. Palliative care is not an end-of-life service; it is a resource that can be helpful at any point in a difficult treatment process, whatever the diagnosis or prognosis.
At Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, pediatric palliative care is considered a key component of high-quality, comprehensive care — and another important way to support children and their families.