MDE 8150: Intro to Palliative Medicine and Hospice TGH 15-16

Contact

Lourdes Rodriguez
lrodrig1@health.usf.edu

This elective is designed to introduce the basic principles and practice of palliative care. A 2-4 week inpatient rotation will consist of full participation on the inpatient consulting service, including daily rounds, interdisciplinary team meetings (IDT) and participation in regular education sessions and case presentations. Students will assist with inpatient consultations with precepting and supervision from the full inpatient team as well as supervising physicians. Focus will be on the assessment and treatment of pain and non-pain symptoms, coordination of care including family meetings, goals of care discussions, conflict resolution, and withdraw of life sustaining therapies. Focus will be on the recognition of the dying process, the pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects of medication commonly used to treat symptoms in dying patients.

Objectives

Initiate palliative care consults on patients in the hospital to include a comprehensive medical history, physical examination and assessment of patient and family understanding of illness and prognosis. Gather a psychosocial, spiritual and values history.
Provide a comprehensive assessment of patients with pain identifying physical, psychosocial and spiritual components of distress.
Explain the relevant basic science, pathophysiology, associated symptoms and signs, and diagnostic options useful in differentiating among different etiologies of pain and non-pain syndromes.
In patient encounters, identify and address common patient, family, health care provider and health care system barriers to effective end of life care, hospice and palliative care.
List indications, clinical pharmacology, alternate routes, equi-analgesic conversions, appropriate titration, toxicities, and management of common side effects in opioid administration.
Communicate effectively with patients and families across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Communicate effectively with physicians, other health professionals, and health related agencies.
Define patient requirements to qualify for the hospice medical benefit and other community-based options for patients with serious illnesses

Evaluation

The student will see patients at Tampa General Hospital on the Palliative Care Consult Service. The student will actively participate in daily team rounds and scheduled didactic sessions. Trainees will be assigned patients by the supervising faculty and will be integrally involved in the assessment of the patient's medical history, physical exam, and evaluation of patient and family understanding of illness and prognosis. They will actively participate in family meetings regarding goals of care and treatment plans. Evaluation of student will be based on performance of above responsibilities.