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End-of-Life Curriculum (Pilot Study)
Introduction
In an effort to provide a practical, meaningful educational experience in
the arena of end-of-life care, we are implementing a program that should be
a positive experience for you and your patients. This program has a few,
easily identifiable goals and competencies.
Ultimately, we would like you to identify a patient who has a pertinent
end-of-life care issue (ie terminal cancer, anticoagulation risk, autonomy
issues, etc) that you have cared for in the hospital. Subsequent to the
hospital discharge, please arrange with the family for two separate visits
to see the patient and family outside the hospital setting. These times can
be at the Nursing Home, the patient’s home, or the clinic. There is
flexibility in these times and locations. Each visit should be no less than
thirty minutes.
Lastly, we are asking you to reflect on this experience with a one-page
paper as it shapes you in your development as a physician. Suggested topics
to cover would include but are not limited to the following:
Quality of Life
Role of Hospice
Medial Economics
Palliative Care
Chronic Pain
Death and Grieving
I am sure that many of you will have creative ways to develop this
experience. As such, I am happy to hear your ideas. I will have the
opportunity to discuss this experience with you at the end of the clerkship
in our individual meeting.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge
Identify issues pertinent to patients at the end-of-life and recognize how
these issues impact their quality of life and family dynamics
Identify/Recognize the core components involved in the psychosocial process
of death (Anger, Denial, Bargaining, Grieving, Acceptance)
Patient Care
Develop communication skills that facilitate patient and families’
understanding of the dying process
Professionalism
Be respectful of essential components inherent to end-of-life care:
beneficence and autonomy
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