TWO-WEEK ELECTIVES FOR THE CLINICAL CONTINUUM

Family & Community Medicine

Clinical Introduction to Hospice and Palliative Care

(MDFC CLN TMC)

Course Description

1. Selected, directed readings/articles on bereavement and lss issues, pain/symptom control, EOL ethics, spirituality, and related topics.
2. Attendance at and participation in team meetings/conferences/presentations.
3. Visits to patients (in-home and in-patient) with interdisciplinary team members.
4. Small group or one-on-one "didactic" sessions with team members.

Course Objectives

To obtain first hand by working directly with the hospice team and hospice patients and families the following experiences in/knowledge of:

1. The goals and methods of hospice care and palliative medicine.
2. The provisions of the Medicare hospice benefit.
3. What constitutes an appropriate referral to hospice care?
4. The interdisciplinary team method.
5. A rudimentary understanding of pain and symptom pharmacology.
6. A small bibliography of references in the care of terminally ill persons and their loved ones/family.

Contact Information

Course Director: Laurence Durante , MD,
Contact name: Teresa Hufnagel , LPN
Contact Info: Saint Joseph Hospice and Palliative Care
824 Elmwood Park Boulevard Suite 155
New Orleans, LA 70123
Phone: (504) 734-0140, (504) 988-4700
Fax: (504) 734-0320