Hackensack Meridian Health Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital recently announced a transformative, 5-year, $3.5 million commitment from The Valerie Fund to expand its Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program. The donation will establish The Valerie Fund Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program at the hospital. It will drastically improve family-centered care for children with complex and serious illnesses.
The new partnership will allow the hospital to care for more patients, expanding from roughly 1,750 to 3,500 patient visits. The funding will strengthen the program’s personnel and grow its psychosocial offerings.
The Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program works to promote the quality of life for children living with chronic, complex or advanced illnesses. It is the only pediatric palliative care program in New Jersey certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
“This is a monumental day for patients and families,” said Joyce P. Hendricks, president and chief development officer of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, which oversees all philanthropic initiatives at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital through the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation. “Palliative care is about providing comfort, dignity and an extra layer of support when families need it most, and this incredibly generous gift from The Valerie Fund will be transformational, allowing us to build a world-class, comprehensive program that matches the outstanding clinical care we provide. We are profoundly grateful for their partnership and their belief in our mission.”
The donation helps to address issues brought up by the increase in the number of patients and the growing complexity of care. The funding has allowed the creation of several new positions, which also gives physicians more time for direct patient care.
The positions created by the new funding can be found listed below.
- Full-time social worker
- Dedicated pediatric pain management psychologist
- Creative arts therapist
- Nurse navigator
- Additional Clinical Nurse Specialist
“For decades, The Valerie Fund has been committed to supporting the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and blood disorders,” said Barry Kirschner, executive director of The Valerie Fund. “We see the immense burden that serious illness places not just on the child, but on the entire family. By funding the creation of The Valerie Fund Program for Pain and Palliative Care, we are ensuring that these brave children and their families receive the complete, compassionate care they deserve. We are proud to partner with Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, a leader in pediatric care, to make this vision a reality.”
The $3.5 million commitment from The Valerie Fund allows the hospital to provide better care, as it expands to provide care for as many children as possible.