<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="65001"%> Palliative Care
 
 
title bar

 

 


back next

Palliative Care

Dr. Christopher O'Brien, Medical Director

The student will participate in the care of patients receiving palliative care for cancer and other life threatening illnesses. The student will work with the preceptor on the 8 bed Palliative Care Unit as well as the assessment and management of patient and symptom issues in other areas of the hospital, outpatient clinics and in the patient's home. On completion of this elective:

  1. The student will be able to outline the trajectory of terminal illness and describe areas where palliative care interventions are appropriate.
  2. The student will be able to take an appropriate pain and symptom history and develop a differential diagnosis and management plan for each symptom.
  3. The student will be able to describe the barriers that exist for home palliative care and suggest ways in which some of these obstacles can be addressed.
  4. The student will be able to describe the psychological, spiritual, and social issues that may be of concern to a patient and the patient's family during and after the illness.
  5. The student will be able to outline the role of a variety of team members in the care of palliative patients.
  6. The student will utilize the principles of critical appraisal in the assessment of literature as it applies to palliative care.

The student will be evaluated by the primary preceptor with input from the palliative care team. Symptom assessment skills, doctor-patient relationship interactions and clinical knowledge will be assessed on a daily basis. The student will be required to present at least one seminar to the palliative care team.

This elective will allow the student to develop an understanding of the effect of an illness on patients and families and is promised to be a rewarding experience.