Written by Samantha Fridley
Marketing and Digital Engagement Coordinator
August 21, 2026
Hospice of the Panhandle Launches New Advanced Pediatric Care™ Guide in Collaboration with NPHI to Support Children and Families Facing Serious Illness
Kearneysville, WV – Hospice of the Panhandle, in collaboration with the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), proudly announces the launch of the Advanced Pediatric Care™ Patient and Caregiver Guide – a new resource created to support families caring for children with serious illness.
Developed with input from pediatric palliative and hospice care experts from nonprofit providers across the country, the guide helps families better understand pediatric palliative and hospice care while offering practical support for navigating care at home.
Families caring for children with serious illness often face overwhelming emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Many parents and caregivers are also trying to understand complex medical information while balancing caregiving responsibilities and everyday family life. This new guide was created to provide clear, compassionate, and easy-to-understand support during difficult moments.
Hospice of the Panhandle is especially proud to recognize Clinical Educator Renee Bledsoe as one of only a select few professionals from across the country chosen to contribute to the development of the guide. Renee was selected for her extensive knowledge and expertise in pediatric hospice and advanced illness care, lending her insight to help shape this important national resource. Her contribution is a tremendous honor and reflects the depth of expertise she brings to this specialized field. We are incredibly fortunate to have Renee’s knowledge, experience, and passion as part of the Hospice of the Panhandle team.
“It has been a privilege to help develop this important resource on behalf of our organization and Pediatric Care Team,” said Renee. “The Advanced Pediatric Care™ Guide is an essential tool for anyone caring for children with serious illness, offering practical information and connections to community resources so families feel informed, supported, and less alone. Our dedicated interdisciplinary pediatric team is passionate about caring for children in our community, many of whom must travel long distances to see pediatric specialists. This guide reflects our commitment to helping bridge that gap, reduce stress for families, and support high-quality care in the comfort of home whenever possible.”
Renee Bledsoe, Clinical Educator at Hospice of the Panhandle
The Advanced Pediatric Care™ Patient and Caregiver Guide includes information on symptom management, emotional support, caregiver wellness, communication with children about illness, understanding hospice and palliative care, and additional resources for families.
Julie Sayre, Director of Advanced Illness Operations at Hospice of the Panhandle, talked about the importance of having a Pediatric Care Team in the Eastern Panhandle.
“Hospice of the Panhandle established its Pediatric Care Team in 2019 with the goal of ensuring that children and families facing serious illness have access to compassionate, specialized care close to home,” Sayre said. “Today, the team includes 15 members representing nursing, social work, hospice aides, chaplaincy, and leadership. Each member brings their own expertise, but also a shared commitment to recognizing that caring for a child is different and requires an individualized, family-centered approach. This work is incredibly important because we are not only caring for the child – we are supporting parents, siblings, and the entire family through some of the most difficult moments they may ever face. Our Pediatric Care Team is committed to helping each child experience the greatest possible comfort, dignity, and quality of life while making sure their family feels supported every step of the way.”
To access a free copy of the Advanced Pediatric Care Patient and Caregiver Guide, please visit https://www.nphihealth.org/pediatric/. If you’re caring for a child with a serious illness or looking to connect with a trusted community-based provider, visit nphihealth.org or call 844-GET-NPHI (438-6744). To learn more about Hospice of the Panhandle’s Pediatric Care Team, call 304-264-0406.
About Hospice of the Panhandle
Hospice of the Panhandle is a nonprofit provider of hospice and palliative care services serving the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, including Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, and Hampshire counties. Through compassionate, patient-centered care, the organization supports individuals and families facing serious illness with medical, emotional, and spiritual care wherever they call home, including its Inpatient Facility in Kearneysville.
About the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI)
The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) is the leading organization representing nonprofit, community-based hospice and advanced illness care providers. Committed to excellence, NPHI’s members ensure patients and families receive compassionate, high-quality care that respects their goals, values, and dignity. NPHI helps nonprofit providers thrive in an increasingly profit-driven healthcare landscape by advancing innovative, person-centered models and strengthening collaboration with leaders, policymakers, and healthcare partners nationwide.