Palliative Care: Medical Intensive Course

Upcoming Courses: 

Nov 26-30, 2012 - Victoria
March 4-8, 2012 - Richmond

For more information, or to register, please contact Education Services at 250-370-8283.

This Victoria Hospice one-week course covers basic and some advanced aspects of palliative care. It provides an excellent foundation in palliative care for:

• family physicians or new palliative care physicians
• new palliative care nurses
• family practice residents
• nurses from home care and long term care facilities
• pharmacists

This program has been accredited by The College of Family Physicians of Canada and the BC Chapter for up to 29 Mainpro-M1 credits. It also meets the accreditation criteria of UBC CPD for 26 AMA PRA Category 1 credits. In addition, course graduates can earn further MAINPRO-C study credits by conducting an evidence-based practice reflection exercise after the course. The Victoria Hospice Psychosocial Care of the Dying and Bereaved course is also accredited for 27 hours MAINPRO-M1 credits.

Find out more about the Palliative Care: Medical Intensive goals, content, format, fee or the textbook, Medical Care of the Dying.

Course Goals

• to increase awareness of and sensitivity to death and dying issues
• to increase understanding, skills and knowledge in order to apply a palliative approach to both cancer and non-cancer disease
• to increase specific medical and nursing skills in the assessment and management of distressing symptoms associated with advanced disease
• to increase understanding of psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and families, including grief and bereavement
• to enhance understanding of the role of the interdisciplinary team in palliative care

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Course Content

• Ethical Aspects of End of Life Care
• Hope and Breaking Bad News
• Prognosis
• Pain Assessment and Etiology
• Basic and Advanced Pain Management
• Gastrointestinal Issues
• Neurological Issues
• Respiratory Issues
• Using a Palliative Approach in Non-cancer Illness
• Sexuality and Intimacy Issues
• Team Issues
• Pediatric Care
• Spiritual Care
• Care Through Death
• Grief and Bereavement

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Course Format

• Course textbook (pre-reading for the course) 4th edition Medical Care of the Dying, is included in the registration fee.
• Topic reviews and discussions
• Videos and multimedia presentations
• Large and small group discussions
• Case-based problem solving sessions

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Course Fee

The course fee is $990 ($960 early-bird rate) and includes registration, a copy of the textbook, lunch on Monday and Friday and refreshment breaks.

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Course Textbook

"I recommend this book highly. It is helpful for people in palliative care, but its clarity and practicality are such that I hope it finds a home on general acute care wards, the offices of primary physicians, and hospital out-patient departments."  — Journal of Palliative Care

The Victoria Hospice textbook, Medical Care of the Dying, 4th Edition, is included in the course registration fee for the Palliative Care: Medical Intensive one-week course. You can also order this textbook directly from Victoria Hospice, or read an excerpt from the Neurological chapter on Confusion, Delirium, and Dementia at the end of life.

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