ABSTRACT
There is a fair amount of angst within the palliative and hospice community about the future of the movement. Efforts focused on becoming more integrated within the health care system have made progress and there is heightened social interest in care at the end of life, yet there is still an undervaluing of palliative care as an essential component in any health care system. The main barrier to children's receipt of hospice care is lack of knowledge on the part of hospice and palliative care workers in how to care for children. There is a corresponding lack of knowledge of how to provide palliative care on the part of pediatric professionals. Nursing certification in hospice and palliative care and a certification for social work are available post graduation but no other disciplines have a mechanism for recognition of the unique skills needed to care for people at the end of life.
