Severe Brain Injury in Pediatric Patients: Navigating Difficult Conversations

Member Community Host: Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
Session Description: A common consultation in the inpatient pediatric PM&R service involves profound brain injury, whether acquired brain injury (such as from anoxia, infection, tumors, or encephalopathy) or traumatic brain injury. Many pediatric PM&R doctors thus find themselves in a situation where they are expected to partake in or lead discussions regarding long term prognosis, goals of rehabilitation, and guide parental expectations in an emotionally charged environment. As PM&R doctors, how do we continue to provide hope and balance realistic expectations while respecting cultural, religious, and emotional differences? These can be some of the most difficult conversations our providers encounter on our service, so we were hoping to present an open discussion amongst our team of peds rehab doctors with varying dual expertise (including board certifications in palliative care, general pediatrics, and brain injury) to hopefully provide insight and considerations for these discussions. Overall this presentation seeks to empower those in our specialty to engage in difficult prognostic conversations with confidence, empathy, and respect for patients and their families. We hope to ultimately improve patient centered care and quality of life, even in extremely difficult situations.

Should this session offer CME? : yes

Length of Session: 60 minutes