Sarah J. Tarquini

Supporting Pediatric Cancer Survivors With Neurocognitive Late Effects A Model of Care

Educational difficulties are common for childhood survivors of central nervous system (CNS) cancers. Children who have been treated for brain tumors and those who have received treatments involving the CNS are at increased risk of developing neurocognitive late effects including difficulties with attention, executive functioning, speed of processing, and academic functioning. These children are also at risk for difficulties with social functioning and social isolation. This hospital’s School Liaison Program (SLP) provides ongoing psychoeducation, advocacy, and consultation services for parents, schools, and medical staff to address the educational needs associated with the late effects of treatment for pediatric CNS-involved patients. This article provides an overview of the SLP model of care and discusses parent-perceived quality and program effectiveness. In general, parents attributed SLP involvement to improved academic performance, home-school communication, and school-level understanding of unique student cognitive profiles and learning needs.

The “Liaison” in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry: Helping Medical Staff Cope with Pediatric Death

Pediatric consultation-liaison clinicians are well positioned to provide support, guidance, and systemic recommendations about how to help medical clinicians cope with the stresses of working with dying children. Interventions to support sustainability in this work need to occur at the institutional and team-based levels as well as in individual practice. Shared clinical work around challenging cases provides opportunities to engage with medical clinicians about their difficult experiences and provide reflection and support. Psychiatry services may also be in a role of advocating for institutionally based interventions that can help their medical colleagues.

Communication in the Pediatric Oncology Setting

Communication is the most common “procedure” in pediatric oncology and, when done well, can have a lasting positive impact on pediatric patients and their families. This chapter reviews the general purposes and strategies for communication in pediatric oncology with a specific focus on the unique role psychosocial clinicians play in facilitating effective communication between patients, caregivers, and providers. Unique issues and topics in pediatric oncology are discussed including multidisciplinary collaboration, triadic communication and decision-making, developmental considerations, discussing bad news, and communication with caregivers in distress.