Goals/Objectives

• To increase the student's understanding of caring for patients with a limited life expectancy.
• To learn more about symptom management for palliative and hospice patients.
• To learn discussions of advanced directives and resuscitation (code) status.

Description of Rotation

A two to four week course in Hospice and Palliative medicine in which the student will learn an approach to care that improves the quality of life for patients and families facing life threatening illness. In hospice and palliative medicine, treatment focus is shifted from disease management to prevention of emotional, social, spiritual and physical suffering related to life limiting illness.

At Renown Medical Center site, Students will have opportunity to make patient visits in the home or inpatient setting with physicians, nurse practitioners, chaplains, nurses and counselors and then present cases at weekly interdisciplinary team meetings. Students will gain knowledge in pain management and palliation of non-pain symptoms such as nausea, delirium, depression and anxiety. Additionally, students will be educated in the regulatory aspects of hospice care including prognostication.

At the VA medical center site, students will have the opportunity to participate alongside HPM fellows, in hospice palliative medicine consults in the medicine-surgical hospital setting and outpatient setting. Students will also participate in the interdisciplinary end of life care for patients in an inpatient hospice unit. Students will gain knowledge in having goals of care discussions with patients and families, as well as in pain management and palliation of non-pain symptoms such as nausea, delirium, depression and anxiety. Additionally, students will be educated in the regulatory aspects of hospice care including prognostication and hospice certification.

References/Materials

Reading material is provided.

Evaluation Method

Ongoing subjective clinical evaluation by the preceptor.

Grade

• Honors: An exceptional performance which exceeds all course objectives
• High Pass: A performance which exceeds most course objectives
• Pass: A performance which meets the course objectives
• Fail: A performance which does not meet the course objectives

Special Notes

Only 1 student at a time!