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Hospice/Palliative Care Program Objectives and Instructional Design,
--Medical Student Level--

 Terminal Objective I.     ANALYZE the value of palliative/hospice care as a component of practice in managing specific patient problems.

ENABLING OBJECTIVES for Terminal Objective I

Teaching Strategy

Evaluation

I A. State the definition of palliative care (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP* course Fresh­man year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

I B.  Summarize the mission, definition, and philosophy of hospice (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP* course Fresh­man year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

I C. State the elements of hospice care and the hospice definition of the unit of care (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP* course Fresh­man year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

I D. Describe the impact of the culture of medicine on the practice of palliative/hospice care (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP* course Fresh­man year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

I E. State the reasons supporting the argument that, when appropriate, palliative/hospice care is a desirable and important service (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP* course Freshman year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

I F. Identify one's own views of palliative/hospice care. (Freshman & Junior level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP* course Freshman year, participation in junior Hospice rotation

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam, Written essay junior year

I G. State the personally rewarding aspects of palliative/ hos­pice care mentioned by palliative/hospice care professionals (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP* course Freshman year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

I H. Examine reasons supporting the argument that the primary care physician has an important role in the care of a patient with a terminal illness (Junior level).

Entire Junior rotation in palliative medicine and hospice

Discussion of topic in simulated IDT* meeting; Written exam

 

Terminal Objective II.     DEMONSTRATE a compassionate approach to the care of patients with terminal illness

ENABLING OBJECTIVES for Terminal Objective II

Teaching Strategy

Evaluation

II A. Recognize the difference between compassionate and dispassionate approaches in the care of terminally ill patients (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP course Freshman year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

II B. Discuss the use of the various levels of the Biopsychosocial Model and the complex nature of terminal illness (Freshman and Junior level).

Didactic and small group learning session 1 Junior rotation, Discussion in IDT meeting

Objective examination, observation with patients and in patient presentation

II C. Describe the essential elements of compassionate care (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP course Freshman year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

II D. Recognize behaviors indicative of dispassionate approach to care (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP course Freshman year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

II E. Recognize the difference between the needs of the physician and those of a terminally ill patient and patient's family system (Freshman level).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP course Freshman year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

II F. Explain how a physician's feelings and attitudes toward terminally ill patients can affect their abilities to communicate effectively with such patients and their family systems (Freshman).

Didactic/discussion, small group sessions in ICP course Fresh­man year

Small group leader evaluation; ICP course final exam

II G. Discuss the complex nature of terminal illness (Freshman & Junior level).

Didactic session; role playing exercises; Patient interviews;

Written exam; observation of student in IDT

II H. Discuss the need for sensitivity to the fears and concerns of a terminally ill patient (Junior level).

Didactic session; role playing exercises; Patient interviews;

Written exam; observation of student in IDT

II I. Identify cognitive and affective reactions of a terminally ill patient or the members of the patient's family (Junior level).

Didactic session; role playing exercises; Patient interviews;

Written exam; observation of student in IDT

II J. Perform a psychosocial assessment applying principles of compassionate care (Junior level).

Didactic session; role playing exercises; Patient interviews;

Written exam; observation of student in IDT

II K. Discuss spirituality as it applies to a person with a terminal illness (Junior level).

Didactic session; Patient interviews

Written exam; observation of student in IDT

II L. Discuss the spiritual needs of a patient with a terminal illness (Junior level).

Didactic session; Patient interviews

Written exam; observation of student in IDT

II M. Discuss the unique contributions of hospice care in meeting spiritual needs of the patient and family (Junior level).

Didactic session; out-of-classroom study of selected references

Written exam

II N. Analyze one's own emotional and cognitive reactions during an interview with a terminally ill patient (Junior level).

Patient interviews; role playing

Required Essay

II O. Describe several supportive measures to use with patients and families during the end-of-life period (Junior level).

Role playing; case analysis; readings

Written exam; observation of student in IDT

II P. Discuss how a physician can provide emotional support and psycho­logi­cal comfort to a terminally ill patient or a member of the patient's family system (Junior level).

Didactic;

Patient interviews

Written exam; Observation of student during patient interviews

 

Terminal Objective III.        DESIGN, in cooperation with the interdisciplinary hospice/palliative care team, a comprehensive plan of care for a patient with a terminal illness

ENABLING OBJECTIVES for Terminal Objective III

Teaching Strategy

Evaluation

III A. Explain how to help a patient and family system understand the diagnosis of a terminal illness (Junior level).

Didactic session; role playing; patient interviews

Faculty observation of role play; written exam

III B. Discuss the physician's role in empowering terminally ill patients to implement their decisions (Junior level).

Didactic session

Written exam; Observation of performance in IDT meeting

III C. Describe/Clarify the essential information needed by patients and families in their consideration to use Hospice Care (Junior level).

Didactic session

Written exam; Observation of performance in IDT meeting

III D. Describe how a terminal illness can affect the family group (Junior level).

Didactic session; assigned reading; patient interviews

Written exam; Observation of performance in IDT meeting

III E. Identify the common emotional and practical needs of hospice patients in finishing their life business (Junior level).

Didactic session; assigned reading; chart review; patient interviews

Written exam; observation of performance in IDT meeting

III F. Determine the best setting and time for providing palliative/hospice care to a patient with terminal illness (Junior level).

Patient interviews; Didactic session; reading assignments

observation of performance in IDT meeting

III G. Differentiate the decision-making process in palliative vs. curative care (Junior level).

Didactic session; assigned reading; chart review; patient interviews

Written exam; observation of performance in IDT meeting

III H. Discuss the ethical and legal dilemmas in providing hospice care (Junior level).

Didactic session by Dr. Keay during Junior rotation in Family Medicine; patient interviews

Test questions, student presentations

III I. Explain how insurance reimbursement policies define and drive hospice care (Junior level).

Didactic session

Written exam

III J. Describe the role of each member of the hospice Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), including the role of the physician (Junior level).

Didactic session; Participation in IDT meeting

Written exam; observation of performance in IDT meeting

III K Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the distressing symptoms associated with a terminally ill patient (Junior level).

chart review; patient interviews

observation of performance in IDT meeting

III L. Identify the pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to treating the distressing symptoms associated with a terminal illness (Junior level).

Didactic session; chart review; patient interviews; programs of self-study

Written exam; observation of performance in IDT meeting

III M. Discuss the complexities of pain management and its relationship to a patient's perceived quality of life (Junior level).

Didactic session; assigned reading; chart review; patient interviews

Written exam; observation of performance in IDT meeting

III N.     Collaborate with members of the hospice IDT (Junior level).

Role playing

IDT participation

III O. Develop a plan of care aimed at controlling the distressing symptoms of a patient with terminal illness (Junior level).

chart review; patient interviews

Student presentation in simulated IDT meeting

III P. Determine the impact of the treatment regimen for a terminal illness on the patient and family system (Junior level).

patient interviews; chart review

observation of performance in IDT meeting

 *                Abbreviations used are: ICP = Introduction to Clinical Practice course; IDT = interdisciplinary team.

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